NATIVE HOUSING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 41, 16 June 1947, Page 7

NATIVE HOUSING

] GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS I i PRIME MINISTER’S LETTER * t Included in the ten-year plan for the Ray of Plenty was the announcement that the Native Department proposed to do a great deal in the establishment of decent housing accommodation for the native population right through the Waiariki Native Land District. Help would be extended wherever necessary and a new departure in- [ eluded the provision of urban renl tal housing especially for Maoris. Some indication of what the Government has in mind was also given in a recent letter from the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, to the Bay of Plenty sub-provincial executive of Federated Farmers. (Auckland Province). This stated that the following priorities have been established for the Ruatoki district:— 1. Returned servicemen inadequately housed.

2. Unit farmers without adequate accommodation.

3. Unit houses where the families have outgrown the size of the home. 4. Addition of suitable conveniences to all scheme houses.

5. Completion of all lean-to type of houses.

Field officers of the Native De[partment have interviewed the settlers and in most cases they have agreed with the priorities specified by the department. The onus was still on the Maoris themselves to make application even although financial assistance was available under the provisions.

Few of the occupiers were sole owners and because of occupation were often necessary the housing position was difficult to assess. The pr

oblem had been discussed with Maori members of the Farmers’ Union who realise the difficulties of the present situation.