HAMILTON'S HIGH RENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16545, 14 July 1925, Page 6

HAMILTON'S HIGH RENTS

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

DWELLINGS OP MODERN TYPE.

Some criticism of the work of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce was levelled last night by Mr C. Lafferty, at the annual meeting of that body. Mr Lafferty asked what benefits to the community generally or to any section of if, bad the work of the Chamber resulted in during the past year. It had certainly urged a revision of the railway time-table, putting on more trains and speeding up others, thus enabling Waikato people 1o do their shopping in Auckland, but he did not sec how this was going to benefit the trading community of Hamilton. The speaker also criticised the new form of administration adopted by the Chamber of placing its affairs in the hands of a council of 15. This be considered an autocratic move and savoured of star chamber methods. It would give the ordinary member, no chance of expressing his opinion on matters.

The high rents obtaining in Hamilton were also mentioned by Mr. Laffcrty. The speaker considered that the Chamber should take some action towards, if possible, bringing about a reduction. The rents in Hamilton, he said, were higher than in any town in New Zealand. The,Chamber had, by its efforts, been instrumental in bringing about a revaluation of the borough, which had incidentally raised a storm of protest, and lie considered they should now use their efforts to bring down rents. The speaker asserted that but for the Slate timber workshops at Frankton, which were turning out houses wholesale, the cost of erecting houses in Hamilton would be al least £IOO more than at present. In reply, Mr Bislcy (retiring president) considered that a more cflicient train service would work out to everybody's advantage. As (o the rent question, the fact that rents were so high in Hamilton was probably due to the fact, that there were no slums in Hamilton, and that the dwellings were all of a, superior type. The reason the Chamber urged a re-valuation of the borough was to bring about a readjustment of values, as it was generally recognised that the values at, the Frankton end of the town were far below those of other parts. Regarding Mr Lafferty's statements anent Government-made houses, Mr Bisley said he had heard builders say that it was easier and cheaper to saw up the timber on the spot than to spend time in sorting out the many parts as was necessitated with the Governmentmade houses. Mr Lafferty moved that the Chamber review the question of rents in Hamilton.

Mr Murray asked Mr Lafferty if he could suggest any means whereby the rents could be reduced.

Mr Lafferty said he only asked for a review and could not offer any remedy. Mr Lambeth thought it should he made perfectly clear why the rents in Hamilton were so high. He had read that for hovels almost unfit for habitation in other towns comparatively high rents were being charged. In Hamilton the class of house generally was superior to that of many other towns, so that in comparison the rents might not be considered unnecessarily high. Mr A. E. Manning remarked that house owners in Hamilton were not getting much out of their properties, even at present rents. Hamilton had progressed at a remarkable rate and the class of dwelling erected here was generally of a superior type and was erected mostly when building prices were high.

Mr 11. Valder (the new president) said the majority of the houses in Hamilton were thoroughly modern and contained conveniences which the older houses of 10 or 20 years ago did n#t possess.

Finally Mr Lafferty's amended motion: "That (he executive investigate the rents of Hamilton with a view to placing before the Chamber a comparison with other towns," was carried.