MORE HOMES NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 55, 12 March 1943, Page 5

MORE HOMES NEEDED

1 * J MR SULLIVAN'S PLEA [ 1 I LONG-RANGE PROGRAMME I The necessity for tlie building of r homes as: a part of New Zealandfs » rehabilitation plan was stressed in > the House of Representatives, last ; week by Mr W. Sullivan (National, [ Bay of Plenty), Avlien speaking in , the Address-in- debate. There had been a shortage of , homes for a long number of years, I lie said. The building of homes [ would help to bring about stability, and there was a strong desire on the , part of the people to own their own , homes. In the years from 1938 to 19-10, the number of homes built , averaged 8000= a year. Recently the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan,, had spoken of a housing programme of 10,000 houses a year , to bo built by the Government. He thought that Avas a promise similar to the one made in 1935, when members of the present Government pro-1 mised to reduce the cost, of living! if they were elected. That latter) promise had not been kept. Anyone 'who knew anything about the situation concerning' building materials and man-power would realise that it was impossible t.o build 16,000 houses a year. That, promise could not be fulfilled. A survey made in 1938 showed that New Zealand was short of 20,000 i homes. If a survey were to be taken now it would be found that New Zealand wanted 30.000 to 35,000' homes to meet requirements. There would, be a phenomenal demand, for. homes -from the men who returned from the war, and the Government should frame a long-range housing programme to cover the needs of the people for the next 10 to 15 years. At the same time it should so organise its timber supplies, its hardr

ware, and its man-power that IKKMito IU,OOO houses could be built annual iy. Mr Sullivan made, a plea for all State tenants being given the opportunity of owning their own homes.