STATE HOUSES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20891, 24 August 1939, Page 8

STATE HOUSES

AVERAGE COBT GIVEN VALUE OF LAND EXCLUDED (By Telegraph.—special to Tlmea) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Average costs of Government houses, exclusive of the cost of the sections, were given by the actingprime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, when replying to the Budget debate in the House of Representatives tonight. “Requests have been made during the debate for details of the cost of State houses,” Mr Fraser said, ' and it has been implied by members of the Opposition that the Government has something to conceal. There i* nothing to conceal. The average cost of building a l'our-roomed house had been £929, at a cost of about 20* lOd a square foot; for a five-roomed house, at 20s a square foot, £1050; and for a six-roomed house, at 19s 3d a square foot, £ll3O. “I have no doubt that a good many have cost more than that," the Minister added, "but those are the average prices for the Dominion.” Opposition Members: What about the cost of the land? ”lf you want the cost of the sections,” Mr Fraser replied, “I see no reason why you should not get it from the Minister or the department. Tha country ig entitled to that information.”