RURAL HOUSING

Chronicle (Levin), 4 August 1947, Page 2

RURAL HOUSING

SCHEME PUT FORWARD Although 9643 houses had been built in New Zealand during the past 12 months, only 120 had been built on farms, said Mr. W. J. Galloway, Otaki, at the Dominion conference of Federated Fanners last week. He outlined to the delegates a scheme for rural housing, considered essential if the problem of farm labour shortage was to be solved. The conference appointed a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister to discuss the proposals. Mr. Galloway said the farmers' scheme was for State rental houses to be erected in villages adjoining farms. Federated Farmers would take the responsibility of paying the rents, with collectioins from groups of farmers in the- vicinity. The rural workers occupying the houses would be guaranteed work for 52 weeks of the year. The workers would be available to give a week or more working for each farmer in the group and would also be available in case of a farmer's sickness. A Thousand Houses The farmers asked for priority for the erection of 1000 houses in rural communities during the next 12 months, said Mr. Galloway. Mr. Galloway asked that a type be evolved and made available for rental. It should be mass-produced and so constructed that rooms could be added to it. If houses were available, so would be married labour. The deputation to meet the Prime Minister, probably next week, will consist of presidents of Federated Farmers' branches of Wanganui, Wellington Central, Manawatu, Makara-Hutt, Wairarapa, as weli as the acting president of Federated Farmers (Mr. H. E. Blyde) and the vice-president (Mr. John Andrew).