MORE HOUSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 12 July 1923, Page 6

MORE HOUSES.

ARCH ITECTS’ ANALYSIS. PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM ' WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The New Zealand Institute of Architects has issued an official statement on the Government s proposal -o provide loans for building houses up to 95 per cent, of £2OOO. They consider that this should prove exceedingly attractive, but that great care ought (o bo taken with the plans and specifications, which are often too meagre. The report suggests that the State Advances Hoard has not the skilled knowledge necessary and the Institute makes the following suggestions. (1) That an applicant should submit full plans and specifications, which should -be submitted to a qualified architect for report. (2) The valuation should be made by an architect, the design being considered. (3) That the State Advances Board should include an architect, and perhaps a builder, not being i Government officers, j (4) That permanent material I should be used wherever possible. (5) Where possiblo preference should be given to building material manufactured in Now Zealand. (6) An applicant should state the number and relationship of persons intending to occupy the House. (7) For the sake of economy, nopli cants should he encouraged to build in groups of not more than six houses.

The statement admits the danger of wages and material rising in the event of a large amount of money being made easily available, but it suggests that if a. competitive tendering system was insisted upon, and the maximum amount fixed, profiteering would he limited in its scope.