Housing Aid for Cook Islanders

Cook Islanders

ON July 18 approval was granted to four Rarotonga families who applied for housing aid under the new Cook Islands Housing Improvement Scheme, The scheme is designed to act as an incentive to married couples with at least two children, and Cook Islanders with dependent families, who are in undisputed possession of suitable building sites, and who are able, within six months, to construct a house to specified standards as far as the roofing stage.

When the authorities are satisfied that these conditions have been met, roofing material up to the value of £50 is issued, free of charge, to the applicant—provided that he uses it immediately to roof his house.

The scheme applies only to natives of the Cook Islands and their descendants, and the funds allocated for this purpose are strictly limited. The scheme operates only in islands where a Resident Agent is in charge, and the housing aid has been divided among those islands on a popula tion basis.

The 1957-58 Estimates allow sufficient funds to help a total of 50 families, 20 of whom will belong

to Rarotonga,-

W.H.P.