PLEA FOR PRIVATE BUILDING

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 9

PLEA FOR PRIVATE BUILDING

DECISION TO APPROACH GOVERNMENT (United Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, February 17. To secure more consideration for private enterprise to revive building by private owners, the conference of the New Zealand Builders’ and Contractors’ Federation decided to make representations to the Government. It claimed that private cottage building should be pushed ahead. It was stated in the discussion that the Government housing scheme was only meeting the housing shortage up to a point. The State houses were only for letting purposes, but there were hundreds of people who desired houses of their own. There was a need for more money to be made available at a low rate of interest. The following resolution was carried: “That the State Advances Department be asked to keep a close watch on and take fully into consideration the rise in the cost of buildings when valuations are being made for advances to owners. It is considered that the rise in costs is the greatest trouble.” FURTHER CONTRACTS LET BY DEPARTMENT LAND ACQUIRED AT GORE AND INVERCARGILL (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 17. Tenders for the erection of 31 State houses at the Northland suburb, Wellington, have been let, according to a statement made today by Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in charge of Housing. Contracts also have been let for four houses at Blenheim, nine at Feilding, 14 at Orakei, Auckland, 12 at Pukekohe and 10 at Christchurch. The Department of Housing Construction also has acquired land for housing purposes at Whakatane, Mount Albert (Auckland), Rotorua, Inglewood, Carterton, Gisborne, Lyttelton, Gore and Invercargill.,