STATE HOUSING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 4

STATE HOUSING

NO UNFAIR ALLOCATIONS “The Government’s housing policy is in no way designed to provide accommodation in the larger towns in unfair proportion to rural requirements,” declared a statement from the Ministry of Works received by the Wanganui County Council yesterday in reply to the council’s suggestion, that State rental houses should be erected in rural areas as well as in towns and in cLies.

“The rural housing scheme has been given priority and the Governmen., has assisted* the farming community throughout the country by the erection of between 600 and 700 temporary and permanent residences of all types,” the statement added. “In conjunction with the Lands and Survey Department hundreds of houses, milking and implement sheds and other buildings have been erected, and this work will be greatly acceietated in the near future.

“As far as possible ordinary State houses are provided in proportion to the existing demand as evidenced by satisfactory applications lodged with .he State Advances Corporation, which is the letting authority for these houses. A greater number of applications are now being received from rural townships, and where warranted houses are being provided as far as prsent conditions will allow. “The present time is a difficult one for house building owing to the shortage of buiiding materials, and it is often possible to arrange building contracts more easily in the larger towns than in the more remote country townships.” The statement indicated that the department was always prepared to give consideration to the provision of houses in any locality provided there is a demand for accommodation as represented by specific applications, and the Corporation is satisfied as to the future continuity of tenure.

“It is not. the’policy to build State rental houses specialty for any specific applicant, houses being allotted to the most needy cases, but if application; warrant the provision o( houses, an endeavour will be made to provide therd,” concluded the statement.