DEFERRED INDEFINITELY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1416, 16 October 1923, Page 4

DEFERRED INDEFINITELY.

MUNICIPAL HOUSING SCHEME. The Housing Committee recommended the Borough Council last evening to seriously consider the advisability of delaying the launching of its housing scheme, in view of the improved position in respect to house shortage in the town. The Mayor explained that the committee had gone carefully into the proposal and the prospects, and had arrived at this recommendation. Cr Peate further explained that there is now not such an acute shortage of houses as prevailed some time ago. ' The Government was making more liberal advances for building or purchasing homes. If the borough launched its scheme it would involve very considerable cost, and as the deposits would be small it may happen that occupants may abandon their part of the agreement and thus the homes would be vacant. The Mayor added that rents were showing a definite downward tendency. Cr McCarroll remarked that one property which was offered to him at £2200 some time ago could now. be bought for £I2OO. Cr Downes thought the Council should definitely decide one way or the other. It was only fair that a decision should be come to without delay. Cr McGechie thought that some hardship might be imposed if the borough abandoned its proposal, particularly on those who had taken up borough sections in expectation of the scheme being proceeded with. Building houses for letting was not "much of a game," but it could not be denied that there were not enough houses in Te Awamutu. It was mentioned that one earlier councillor, in seeking to sell sections, had stated the Council would carry on the building scheme. He had no Council authority for such a statement. On the motion of Crs North and Montefiore, the committee's recommendation was adopted. It was then decided, without further discussion, to defer the scheme definitely and to notify the State Advances Office to this effect.