STATE ADVANCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17175, 4 February 1930, Page 7

STATE ADVANCES

LOANS FOR HOMES

CURTAILING GRANTS EMPTY HOUSES TO BE SOLD, (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A denial ot a published suggestion that State Advances loans are to be curtailed was issued by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, last night. Sir Joseph Ward authorised the following s statement for publication :

"The declaration in a Press Association message from Auckland that, owing to the numoer of empty houses in Auckland, no further Government loans for the building of homes will be made until the situation improves, is not a correct statement of the position. It is well known that there are a very large number of empty houses in Auckland and suburbs, and the iState Advances Department has, in addition, had a number of its securities abandoned, .chiefly through the difficulties of transport and unemployment. These securities the department is endeavoring to dispose of, and to that end it has L-een considered expedient to bring these houses, which comprise recently erected dwellings, before the notice of intending applicants desirous of erecting new homes.

"Should, however, it not be possible for the department to satisfy the requirements of an applicant by the sale of one of the department's available securities, bis application ." would be dealt with on its merits, when the housing position generally would be taken into consideration,- in conjunction with the circumstances relative to the applicant and the proffered security. "In any case where the circumstances justify the State Advances Department in'entertaining an application, the matter would be dealt with in the usual manner, and as soon as it is possible to do so. The statement made in the press that such loans are to cease is ridiculous."

The Press Association liessage above referred to was sent out from Auckland, and stated: "Owing to the number of empty houses in Auckland, no further Government loans for the building of homes will be made until the situation improves. The announcement is contained in a communication from the department. The opinion expressed locally is that the public should hat© been given a warning." A similar decision is reported to have been made in respect to Christchurch some days ago, when, in reply to' an application for a loan, the State Advances Department advised that no more loans would be granted in Christchurch until the position in regard to empty dwelling houses had improved.—P.A. AUCKLAND EXPLANATION ' (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The statement made yesterday, that owing to the number of empty houses in Auckland no further Government loans for* building houses here would bemade 'until the situation improved waa_ published in consequence of the following letter received by Auckland solicitors (to clients) from the State Advances deputy superintendent:— ' ''With reference to the applications submitted on behalf of the above named clients for loans to erect dwellings, I have to inform you that the matter was again placed before members of the board of this office, who have ttsaolved to, postpone consideration of the ap* plications for the present., I wonM liko to explain that the housing (position in. Auckland is not at present considered satisfactory inasmuch as there are a good many empty houses to be found, about the city. In the circumstances the members of the board do not consider it advisable or expedient to grant any further loans for the building of more dwelling houses just now in Auckland. As soon as the situation improves and it is found that there no uri-' occupied buildings in the city and thatfurther dwelling houses axe required, your clients may renew their applications, when the matter will receive further consideration."