HOUSING SCHEME

Evening Star, Issue 22456, 29 September 1936, Page 14

HOUSING SCHEME

CREATING ASSET WITH STATE'S CREDIT MR LEE ENTHUSIASTIC [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 28. “ I feel that we are going to succeeded and that we can administer the State’s credit to create tangible assets of value to the nation’s home life and health,” said Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Controller of the National Housing Scheme, in an election address at Ouebunga to-night when ho forecast the future of the Dominion as a result of the Government’s building programme. “ I want your prayers rather than your cries lor expediency because J don’t want to issue verbal cheques until there are houses in our banking account,” said Mr Leo. He .spoke of the unique features of the scheme, saying it was the first time in the history of a democratic country that the financial system had been used for the purpose of bettering the lot of the people as a whole. Building was a great employer of unskilled labour, he added. No trade was unaffected by prosperity in building, and since the Government’s announcement of its scheme more than Half the members of the Opposition had referred to the soundness and sanity of it They now realised that the halting of building activity had been the cause of widespread misery. “ New Zealand has known a shortage of houses for many years, but Labour’s programme of assisting people to find their feet is going to make the position more acute than it has ever been and it must do something to relieve it,” Mr Lee said. Instead of sending young men into slave compounds, breaking their hearts, and preventing their marrying, Labour intended to give them an income so that they might fulfil their rightful destiny in marrying. They would want homes and the State would have to build for them. The scheme bad nothing to do with the State Advances scheme, which would continue as at present. Under the housing scheme, Mr Lee said, land was to be acquired and homes that were homes would be erected. In certain features, such as sewage appliances and gas stoves they would be alike, but the scheme would be so planned that 500 or 600 houses would bo erected at a time, with no two the same in external appearance. As far as possible it was intended to build them with New Zealand materials. It was hoped that the co-operation of the building trade would be secured. The trade w r ould bo assured of a fair deal, but if any person or organisation tried to extort undue profits, thereby creating ah unfair loading cost on the houses, the Government would take steps to deal with them, and if necessary go into the business itself. “ We are faced with a shortage of skilled building craftsmen, a legacy from the last Government,” said M Lee. “We intend, however, to discuss with Labour organisations which have been sympathetic towards us the matter of training young men to bo craftsmen. Wo intend to give them an opportunity that , was denied them during the depression of learning a trade. , , , , “ Thousands of people have already written asking forgone of our houses,’ Mr Lee concluded. “ When the time comes they will be allotted fairly. Xhe scheme will be a long-continuing one providing healthy work for every virile young man in New Zealand. The basis of future prosperity lies in the homo life of its people. Eventually, it is hoped to extend the scheme for the benefit of deserving farmers who are as much entitled to it as. any city dweller.”