THE HOUSING QUESTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 75, 30 July 1948, Page 4

THE HOUSING QUESTION

Sir, —The housing question like other main problems that are puzzling politicians and the public, is a clear case of the tail wagging the dog. As soon as the present Government got its foot in the stirrup it handed the reins of its building supplies to the manager of a big private enterprise lock, stock and baryrell. As soon as war was declared the same man was appointed to a position of substantial authority. No M.P. or member of Public | Bodies should be allowed to tender for public works because, having “inside information” it gives him an unfair advantage over outside contractors. The concern referred to above naturally corners the lion’s share of supplies. Hundreds of homes would have been built privately by local men in all districts had material been, on an open market, and not conserved for the benefit of big builders. Another check to progress is the gambling with building sites, which compares very unfavourably with the flag-flying when the boys re 7 turned to a warm welcome and no fire to sit by in the homes of their dreams while they were going through hell to protect the homes of others. How about the huge American stores that would build a town or two, waiting-for years to be demolished and auctioned for the benefit of some private enterprise to add to the sum total of profit made by those who did the least to earn it? (“But they had to take risks,” some would say). Didn’t the boys take risks? And what is their luck? Live in a hovel while the profiteers make their pile and emphasise, the famous lines of Bobby Burns) “Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” Yours etc., H. SERGANT.