Poor Transport Keeps Many Houses Vacant

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 8

Poor Transport Keeps Many Houses Vacant

SUBURBAN PROBLEM INTEREST IN REAL ESTATE “I would like to suggest that w, spread the gospel of optimism and make up our minds to help those in power to discourage mistrust of public-spirited men.” said Mr W. J. Potter, in the presidential address at the annual meeting of the Auckland Real Estate Institute last evening. There was a attendance of members, and Mr. Potter, in moving the adoption o£ the report and balance sheet, said that the prophecies of prosperity made at the last annual meeting had not been fulfilled. Nevertheless, considerable business had been done in farm land, and there had, too been some big city property deals. The sale of house and allotments, however, had been quiet. At present there were hundreds of houses to let, but the bulk of them were in the far suburbs. The lack of transport facilities was the cause of this unfortunate situation, and real estate agents were looking forward to the Transport Board giving the public better facilities for reaching outlying homes at a reasonable cost. He went on to say that large sums of money had been released by the Government for advances to settlers and workers, but the disquieting thing about the properties acquired was the number which had fallen in and were now on the market. He considered that the whole position should be r«viewed by the Government before further advances were made. The supply of houses had overtaken the demand, and it was doubtful whether the Government was justified in making advances to a small number of people on separate terms at the expense of the whole community. The following oflicers for the year were elected: President. Mr. W. J. Potter: vice-presidents, '.Messrs. T. MeIndoe and Stace E. Bennett: committee, Messrs. A. V. Burcher, A Evans, G. F. Mellars, H. K. Clayton and P. Balgarnie.