THE HOUSING PROBLEM

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5884, 12 April 1920, Page 2

THE HOUSING PROBLEM

POSITION BECOMING ACUTE IN WAIHI

PROPERTIES SOLD FOR REMOVAL.

RENTS LIKELY TO ADVANCE.

Thjc housing problem theatens to become serious in Waihi at nb very distant date as a result of the frequent sales of dwellings ibr removal to other parts. Dirt'ing the early stages of the recent strike there was quite a. rush of would-be buyers of house property to the toAv:n, .and a warning to holders not to act hastily and find themselves repenting at leisure was issued by the Da.ily Telegraph. So far as ca/.i be gathered there were not many sales during the period of the dispute, but a dertii.in amount of business appears to have 'boon done, and it is understood Chat with transactions made prior to and subsequent to the dispute quite a number of houses, mostly of a desirable residential class, will lie taken down and removed as soon as builders can find it eonvonionfc to give attention to (their demolition.

In view of the ever-riicreasing prices of all classes of building material, and the growing shortage of suitable timber, temping offers arc being: made for dwellings in Waihi, a.nd it i<s thus not surprising to find an indinition on the part of landlords to sell properties, many of which wene purchased for considerably less years ago than the am'ou'irts now pffcrod. Oaly a day or two ago a. house of five rooms of moderate size, Avith a kitchen and small bnthroom, avus sold for £425, another of similar size brought £4OO, while a third and smaller dwelling wont for £3O-3. In all these instances it may safely be said that, apart from rent received during the periods of occupation, the owner of the respective properties ivere making a substantial pi'ofit on the original outlay. Exception cannot of course be taken to the sales, (it nests With the owners to act as Ithey see fit, but it is quite clear that in ccmsequtmo'e of the conti'mied sales a scarcity of aceommoation must come IsliUrtly, a.nd that with the shortage rents must advance. For years past Waihi has, with the exception of Alexandra, stood lowest on the list of the tAVeney-five leading towps in New Zealand i;:i the maltter of rental charges, I but indications are that it will 'not re- ; main long there.