BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1924, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

{*R eutehs Tsi.korams.J NEW HOUSING SCHEME. LONDON, Dec. 17. [ll the House of Commons in the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr Wheatley moved an opposition amendment oil the subject of the housing problem, expressing regret at the Government's neglect of the interests of the working classes. Mr Neville Chamberlain (Minister of Health) contended that bis Housing Act of 192:1 stimulated building.

Referring lo the new. cheap and quick methods of construction. Mr Chamberlain described Lord Weir’s proposed steel houses, consisting of a tim!k*i* frame lined with steel olales outside;. and a material of wood pnl|> and asbestos inside. These would cost substantially less than a brick production, besides affording a large field for employment. He was impressed with this Ivpe of house notwithstanding certain (iisad vantages and had therefore arranged to allocate a sum ol money to the local authorities to enable them to obtain some which he Imped voul.l he primarily used lor demonstration purposes. The amendment was rejected by AVI to 130. Replying to Walter Baker Sir C'uulill’o Lister (President of tl"* Board of Trade), said he did not doubt that tho Royal Commission on food prices and the Imperial Economic Committee would investigate the advantages likely to accrue to Britain and tin* Dominions by the storage ami marketing of wheat and other fnodstulls here dtrcctlv from the Dominions.