HOME FOR £300

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 2

HOME FOR £3OO

THREE-ROOMED DWELLINGS ASHBURTON MAN’S SCHEME What he believes to be a temporary solution of the housing problem has been arrived at by Mr A. J. Breakwell, a sawmiller, of Ashburton, who is constructing three-roomed dwellings of Pinus insignis at from £250 to £3OO, of which up to £IOO is for electrical and other fittings. Construction takes a fortnight, and Mr Breakwell is putting these dwellings up for his workmen. Work was started on one a little over a fortnight ago at Tinwald, and it will be occupied on Monday. Another has been erected at Lyndhurst, where Mr Breakwell is opening another sawmill. The dimensions of the dwellings are 20ft by 15ft, and they are complete with electrical fittings, including heat storage ranges. The roofs are of secondhand corrugated iron. The buildings are on four big studs and can be jacked up on to lorries and on the way to a new location in half an hour. Mr Breakwell has permitted several inquirers to take measurements of the houses for their own purposes. A visitor from Timaru asked him to build one of these houses so that he could take it down there. A man who has arrived back in the country after several years in England told him that thousands of houses of an almost identical pattern are going up there, being placed in groups which have central water facilities. The houses Mr Breakwell is building are of green phie, milled at the right time. No time is lost with seasoning processes—two coats of paint are applied and about six weeks later putty is applied if required. The interiors are of - pinex board, which can be painted in accordance with the wishes of'the occupants. Mr Breakwell is of the opinion that when these houses have served the purpose of relieving the temporary shortage of houses they would admirably meet the needs of pensioners, who do not require anything too large or pretentious on account of the labour and money involved in maintenance. In the meantime, he contends, it is a far better proposition for a returned serviceman who wants, a house in a hurry than spending up to £ 1500 on an ordinary house.