NATIONALISTS WANT MORE STATE HOUSES IN COUNTRY

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1948, Page 3

NATIONALISTS WANT MORE STATE HOUSES IN COUNTRY

P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. In the House of Representatives tonight, the Acting-Prime Minister, Kt. Hon. W. Nash, said that quite justifiable representations could be made for the erection of more houses in the rural areas, but it was just as well to take stock of what had already been done. The Governmeni had provided funds at 3 per cent, to enable county councils to erect houses and 400 had been erected under this arrangement. Thirty-nine houses had also been built under tne Counties Act, and 12 had been erected on the application of dairy companies. In 1944, there were built, under an emergency arrangement 101 two bedroomed 'houses and 53 three bedroomed houses. In all, 1076 houses had been built, and 1738 State rental houses had been built in, the smaller rural areas.

Mr Nash was replying to Mr W. A. Sheat (Nat., Pateai, who had said that a substantial portion of the expenditure on housing should be in rural towns( when the vote on the estimates for Housing Construction was give ', consideration. Mr Sheat said he knew it. cost more to build in the country, but land there cost lesh than in the big towns and cities.

STATE RENTALS TOO LOW?

Mr S. W. Smith (Nat., Hobson), urged more help for those building their own homes. There was a too great a disparity at present between the cost of building one’s own home and the rentals of State houses, which were, in effect, subsidised fm State tenants by the rest of the community. It was unfair under these circumstances, that a Minister of the Crown shouldoccupy a State house when thousands of people on smaller salaries could not obtain one. BIG HOUSES WANTED Mr E. P. Aderman (Nat., New Plymouth) stressed the need for more houses suitable for the requirements of large families. He said it was astonishing how lew Slate houses were built for large families He also hoped that more bouse." would be made available for old-age pensioners. Mr W. P. Coleman (Gisborne), Un-der-Secretary for Housing said the reason why more houses were no. built in the rural areas was because of the difficulty of getting builders to take these contracts. The Housing Department was ready, and willing, to build more houses in the rural areas, if it could get the builders. Mr W. J. Broadfoot* (Nat., Waitomo) moved a reduction in the vote of £5 as an indication that it was considered that private traders should be allowed to operate in State Housing areas which were now being kepr as monopolies for co-operative stores

NO CONTRACTORS The Minister of Lands, the Hon. C F. (Skinner said that throughout the country far more contracts had been offered" for rural housing than contractors could be found for. It had been suggested by Mr D. C. Kidci (Nat., Waitaki), that more brick houses should be built, but even available brick was being used n. housing, and other vital material., were being similarly absorbed to tne limit of production. The Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple said he would like to know oi a country where people were fully and comfortably housed. "There is not a land under God’s blue skiee where the people are adequately housed,” he said. Mr Semple saiu the war had exaggerated the huusni, problem. “We did what we could during the war period, but we haw had seven years of stagnation so far as building is concerned. We can't do anything more in any undertaking without adequate materials and manpower.” Mr Semple said the Government had built a township at Maraetai at a cost of £BOO,OOO which would serve 4000 people. Homes were to be built at Lake Pukaki and Tekapo to house 3000 people and a township woulo have to be built large enough for uOui people for the Roxburgh power scheme. "Otherwise there won t beany scheme,” he added. He was not suggesting that the Government had bunt enough houses in the rural areas, where more were wanted but progress in that direction was governed by two factors —the manpower and materials available. "We are doing the best we can,” continued Mr Semple. "I don’t knowhow w'e can build more ,or do more, than we are doing at the moment, on account of the limitations so far as manpower and materials are concerned. I am wondering about the steel supply. Australia is in a bad way.” CEMENT LIMITATION

He agreed that a brick or concrete house was better than one built of timber, but we were limited so Lar as cement was concerned, and we were facing a problem there. The tunnel at Tekapo had been pierced and a bull’s eye scored. That would mean that demands for cement would _ be greater now, and 20 times as much as nad been used in the last few years woula be required to build the dams and penstocks. In the first six months of this year, 500 more houses had been pnilt than at the same time last year, and ho believed the target of 12,000 houses this year would be reached. Mr R. M. Algie (Nat. Remuera) said the speeches from the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Works would give cold comfort to thousands of people in the country. There was no harm in telling the people the actual truth of the situation, but, when it was expressed in terms which were boastful, then they would givecold comfort. He considered the speeches were “a couple of first-class cornet solos.” AMENDMENT LOST After further discussion, a division was taken, and the amendment lost by 29 votes to 32. Tne vote was passed. Votes passed ciuring the day totalled £23,046,851. , Before the House rose, Mr Nash indicated that the Land Valuation Court Bill and the Servicemens Settlement and Land Sales Amendment Bill would be further debated to-morrow. ... The House rose at 11.5 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.