H.—llb

2

The land now available for new dwellings is located as follows: Auckland (Ellerslie and Otahuhu); Ngaruawahia; Huntly; Rangataua; Napier (Awatoto and West Shore); Waitara; Wanganui (Gonville); Palmerston North (Terrace End); Levin; Wellington (Island Bay, Taitville, Johnsonville, and Petone); Blenheim; Nelson; Westport; Greymouth (Cobden); Christchurch (North Richmond); Timaru; Temuka; Dunedin (Mornington and Ravensbourne); and Invercargill (Seaward Bush). Six or more applications are awaiting hearing at Auckland, Te Puke, Hamilton, Tolaga Bay, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Christchurch, and Timaru. At the beginning of the year 1911—12 the collection of all rentals and payments for workers' dwellings was placed in the hands of the Public Trustee, and there is no doubt that an improvement has resulted from this arrangement. In the former year (1910-11) the percentage of rents collected was approximately 88, while during the subsequent two years the percentage has been 90 in 1911-12 and 94 in 1912—13. It is anticipated that this percentage will be further increased as the remaining dwellings that are let on weekly and monthly tenancies are disposed of under the purchase system prescribed by the Act of 1910. Owing to the difference in the designs chosen by applicants "in the various towns, it has been found impossible at this stage to prepare a table showing fully the comparative cost of erection of buildings in each district; but in a year or two, when considerably more dwellings of similar design have been constructed, a very interesting comparative table will probably be compiled by the Department on this matter. The following table (marked A), however, gives a fair idea of the comparative cost of erection in five out of the seven towns in which dwellings have been built. The two most popular designs have been selected — viz., No. 11, of four rooms, and No. 7, of five rooms —and the prices given exclude drainage, fencing, artificial lighting, and administration expenses (2J per cent.). It will be seen that the cheapest town in which to build is Christchurch, whilst the largest expense is contracted in Wellington and Palmerston North. It has thus, so far, been found quite as expensive to build in the smaller towns as in the four centres, although, as the land is considerably cheaper in the former, the capital value is slightly less and the instalments payable are appreciably reduced (see Table C). The table marked B compares the prices charged to purchasers of the sections in the various towns. The amounts shown include all charges for the expenditure incurred in preparing the land for the erection of dwellings thereon, for roading, &c.

Table A. —Comparing the Average Cost of Erection of Dwellings built to Designs 7 and 11 in some of the Towns where Dwellings have been constructed under the Act.

Table B. —Showing (1) the Average Area, in various Towns, of Sections on which Dwellings have been erected under the act; (2) the average Price per Section charged to Purchasers of Same; and (3) the Average Price charged per Acre (for Purposes of Comparison).

Average Cost of ing Drainage, 1 Lighting, and Ai Dwelling (exchidFencing, Artificial dministration. District. Plan 11 (Four Rooms). Plan 7 (Five Rooms). Luck'and Vellington Jhristchurch .. 'almerston North 'emuka •# £ 312 345 300 318 £ 345 380 331 374 367

(1-) (2.) (3.) Name of Town. Locality. Average Area of Sections. Average Price per Section charged to Purchasers. Average Price charged per Acre (for Purposes of Comparison). Auckland Ellerslie (5 miles from G.P.O.) and Otahuhu (9 miles) Gonville (2 miles) and Wanganui East (2 miles) Terrace End (2 miles) Island Bay (3-| miles) Sydenham (2 miles) and Addington (3 miles) North (2 miles) East (2 miles) R. p. 1 4'95 £ 137 £ 488 Wanganui 0 33 74 359 Palmerston North Wellington Christchurch .. 0 35 0 15-4 0 38-5 75 103 78 343 1,070 324 Timaru Temuka 0 27 2 0 56 75 332: ;• 150