THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 41

THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY.

INCREASE IN ADVANCES PROPOSED. AUCKLAND, May 27. As a contribution towards the attempted solution of the housing difficulty tire Prime Minister intends to ask Parliament to amend, in the direction of increasing front 76 to 95. the percentage of the cost the Government can lend settlers and workers wishing to build their own houses. He made this announcement this morning to a deputation from t.he Council ot Christian congregations, which was introduced by the Mayor of Auckland. “1 am going to ask Parliament to matte a serious alteration in the law.’ said .Mr Massey, “which will encourage the building of a great many more houses. At present the Government, under ihe Advances to .Settlers and Advances to Workers’ Act may find 75 per cent, of the cost of a building. That has worked very well in the past, but I think it. is capable of improvement, and I intend to ask Parliament to improve it. lam going to ask Parliament to increase the amount we can advance from 75 per cent, to 95 per cent. You will no doubt think that that is a pretty big risk, and l don't shut my eyes to the fact ; but the money is lent on what are known as table mortgages. That is to say, that as soon as the tiist halt year’s interest is paid liability is automatically lessened, and tlie security of State* is improved, and goes on improving. I think Parliament will agree to my suggestion. Of course. wo know' that if the percentage be increased as 1 suggest, we would.have to provide a lot of money, probably a m.llion pounds, as there would be a rush to take advantage of the Government’s new scheme, “and that,” said Air Massey, “is what the Government is doing in the matter of the shortage of houses.” He went on to say that he did not know exactly what the Mayor of Auckland had in his mind in regard to the amelioration of lhe position, but if he (Mr Massey) could assist. Auckland, or any other city where there was a housing difficulty, he would be quite prepared to consider any reasonable proposal. Turning to the question of the accommodation of immigrants that had bean raised the Prime Minister said that if immigrants were of the tight type they would lie ready to build their own houses. Tlie dominion had been su.cce.sful up to the present in getting good hatches, and there were always building tradesmen among them, just the sort of people shat we want to build homes for themselves, and for other people. Speaking generally, Mr Massey said he had outlined what the Governin' nt had done. He had explained that it was increasing the opportunities for people to build. It must be remembered hat Auckland had gone ahead in a most unprecedented and wonderful way during rho past few years. In addition to which they must remember the gap in building caused by the war. If the deputation could suggest anything more than the Government was doing, or proposed, lie would . nost cordially try and help.