STATE HOUSE ALLOCATION

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1946, Page 5

STATE HOUSE ALLOCATION

-Press Assvcicition

By Telec/ravh-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. The potition of P. C. Peters, accountant. Wellington, asking for an inquirv into the me.thod of allocating State rental llats and houses, and the steps .'aken to verify the statements made by applieants, was reported baclc to tne House of Representatives vesterday afternoon by the Public Petitions Pommittee, whieh had 110 recommendation to make. IMr. C. 1M. Bowden (Wellington West), who presented the petition, thanked the couimittee for the very careful consideration it had given the petition, and said he was sorry it had not seen its way clear to bring in a recommendation. It was a distressing case — the petitioner had b rough t up nine children, there were 22 grandchildren, and now, after 42 years of married life, he was foreed to live in a private hotel while his wil'e was acconimodated at the convenience of the children — but 110 oue would suggest that the State ' Advances Corporation failed to adopt some proper and regular procedure 111 regard to allocations. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said he could not see what other action the committee could have taken in view of the form of the praver of the petition. The whole point was that there was a shortage of houses and that priority was arranged by the State Advances Corporation, to whieh any member would be quite justified in making representations. There might be difference of opinions as to the degree of hardship, but in the long run someltody had to decide and he thought that the allocations had been made very fairlv indeed. The only solution to tlie problem was more houses.