WORKERS’ HOMES.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 309, 28 April 1914, Page 2

WORKERS’ HOMES.

DEMAND IN TE AWAMUTT

TWELVE APPLICATIONS. In response to the invitation of the Te Awamutu Clßunber of Commerce, seven intending applicants for Workers’ Homes met at the Cosmopolitan club room on Friday evening for the purpose of completing their applications. Mr W. F. Stewart, acting-presi-dent, presided, and the meeting was represented on behalf of the chamber by the Chairman, and Messrs M. C. Lawson, and A. G. Warburton (secretary). The sys tern was briefly explained, and several questions answered. The meeting was unanimous in its desire to see the workers’ homes established in Te Awamutu, and the erection proceeded with at the earliest possible moment, and resolved accordingly. Mr Lawson on behalf of his firm, offered to give personal assistance to any applicant, for which offer he was heartily thanked. ’lt was decided that the applications be sent in at once, and that it be requested that the Departments Land Purchase Officer be asked to visit Te Awamutu to ascertain what land is offering.. When suitable land is obtained, the applicants will select a place for the residence required, so that building operations may be immediately started.

All present duly made application, the additional five being made since the meeting. We understand that twelve applications were forwarded to the authorities yesterday, and that three or four others have been unable to complete theirs, owing to the supply of the necessary printed forms in the possession of the Chamber being exhausted. A further supply of these forms has been applied for, and it is anticipated the number of applicants will total eighteen or twenty.

There is no system offering greater opportunities to any “Worker” (as defined by the Act) than that provided for in the Workers’ Dwellings system. Under this system the State acquires the land, builds the residence, and hands it over ready for occupation to the applicant. The deposit is only a nominal one. A set of about twenty-five .plans are provided by the department, from which the applicant selects the particular residence likely to most suitably meet his (or her) requirements, and he may make any reasonable alterations to these plans desired. By the rental charged the purchase is completed over a period of 25 V 2 years, although the occupier may pay off the amount due, or portion of it, at any time. The amount of interest on the outstanding principal is computed at 5 per cent, per annum, and an additional 2 per cent, is placed to the credit of the purchase account. Taken over the full term of 25% years, the proportion of rent is £77 lIS 9d in every £177 ils 9d paid by way of rental. Thus a man who pays 10s weekly to the Workers’ Homes Department only pays 4s 9d as rent, the bal-. ance of 5s 3d going towards the purchase of his home. Assuming that the capital value of a property is £SOO (home £4OO, land £100), the weekly charge would be 13s 6d to the Workers’ Homes Board, which would include both purchase money and rent. Added to that amount would be the rates to the controlling local authority,so that the total cost to the occupier would not be likely to exceed 15s per week. The set of plans provided give a very wide range, the estimated cost of the various houses ranging in value from between £l5O and £6OO. In making application for workers’ homes Te Awamutu citizens are only following in the lead of every other progressive town in the Dominion, at which the value of the scheme, which offers not only reasonable and considerate terms to the occupier, but provides a means for the erection of well constructed and nicely designed residences of very con- 1 siderable credit to any town, is : properly recognised. ]