HOMES FOR RURAL WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2215, 30 July 1914, Page 8

HOMES FOR RURAL WORKERS

UNDER WORKERS' DWELLINGS ACT A PLEA FROM THE COUNTRY

Tho question of the provision ,of homes for rural workers was discussed at .- the conference of the A', and I', Societies yesterday., Mr. Hugh Morrison, of Masterton, ' introduced the matter by moving:—

•; "That the system of aiding town workers to obtain homes under the' Workers' D'weliirigs . Act 'should be extended to the country districts,' so that, the rural workers may'be. enabled to secure homes of their , own without' ; the stipulation that six or more shall apply for financial help in one centre; and also that arrangements shall be niado to extend tli© timo for repayment s<f as . :to /educe the amount payable nually.".Mr. M'orrison said that one of the most .important problems of every country was the trend of population from the. country to the towns. In New South "\Yales half '-tho, population lived m Sydney. .■ The only European country in which the n\ral. districts . were more than maintaining the balance was Denmark, where small holdings and" rural settlement was. encouraged. Proceeding, Mr, Morrison " said that tho fault lay with >the farmers themselves. ]'Wo, liiivQ not,''' he Eaid, "given aiiy inducement for men to marry, • and make' homes'."in- the' country." If'a mail maimed'' in the country lie had. to go to a/ town to -get a home for his The result wa's that almost the whole of the_ rural working-class* Was being reared in the towns, and this was unsatisfactory in various, ways. Mr.. J. Studholmo (Ashbiuton) said that the Government had given i tho County Councils ample powers to provide, furnish, and let cottages. Ho wished to move, after Mr. Morrison's proposal; had been dealt with:— ■ "That. this, conference should thank the..Government for the extended.power they have conferred upon County Councils, onabliiig them to assist farm workers'to provide' homes for themselves, ■and begs to,urge upon the Government the advisability" of,- enqpiira'ging.'County Councils'ito take 'advantage. of tlio'iiew power by advancing them loans'for the purpose, as occasion requires, at tlie lowest rate of interest the Government can' afford; such loans to be repayablo if required by-instalments, as detailed in the schedule to 'the Counties, Amendment Act-, 1913.". .' Mr- J-. C. N. Grigg remarked thaiv tho men-, who: would benefit most from a good supply of permanent labour wore the farmers, and therefore in erecting ; cottages for their employees they were benefiting themselves." In the early . days his father had erepted, cottages for his workers, and had been informed that he would thereby ruin himself. The result, howover, had been, the reverse, and. some of the men now working for. tho, speaker were the sons of the people' who had occupied those cottages. ' Replying, Mr. Morrison' said that it was not the .wealthy men he' aimed."to help, but the- men who needed 'assistance;:. The idea, .further, was that where the County Councils did not tako up the matter tlio. Government' should step in and do so. Both motions were carried.' ; ;