Under the Housing Acts, 1925-1930, a sum of £1,250,000 was provided for the purpose of making grants to private persons, public utility societies and local authorities engaged in erecting houses. In the 1925-1928 Acts the grants were as follow:— Private persons, three-roomed houses £45; four-roomed houses £60; five-roomed houses £75. Public utility societies, three-roomed houses £60; four-roomed houses £80. five-roomed houses £100. Local authorities, three-roomed houses £60; four-roomed houses £80 and five-roomed houses £100. Under the Acts from 1929 to 1930 the grants were reduced to £45 in the case of private persons and £60 in the case of public utility societies and local authorities in respect of houses containing not less than three rooms. The period for the commencement of houses built by private persons and public utility societies, under these Acts, extended from 1st April, 1929, to 31st March, 1931, and to qualify for grants the houses had to be completed by 29th ultimo.
The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of last year provided a further sum of £130,000 to enable grants at the above rates to be paid to private persons and local authorities in respect of houses completed between 1st April, 1931, and 29th ultimo. The supplementary estimate now asked for is to enable payment to be made during the current financial year in respect of these later houses. Under the Acts 1925-1931 there have been approximately 14,000 houses approved for grants to be built by private persons and public utility societies. The number of houses approved in respect of local authorities, under the same Acts, is approximately 6,000. Since 1922 the total number of houses provided by local bodies, public utility societies and private persons is, approximately, 26,000.
