HOUSING PLAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 52, 29 January 1938, Page 11

HOUSING PLAN

PROVISION OF HOMES. NATIONAL PARTY’S POLICY. WELLINGTON, Jun. 29. The National Party’s housing policy was defined by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. Hamilton, in an interview last evening. He criticised the housing methods adopted by the Government, and said the National Party would work in the closest harmony with private house-building organisations so as to make modern houses available to a greater number of people than was the ease at present. The unwarranted restrictions placed on the house-builder by the present Government would be removed.

“The subject of housing, as carried on by the present Government, brings into bold relief one of the fundamental differences between their policy and the policy of the National Party,” said Mr Hamilton. “State factories and large monopolies are the means adopted by them for providing the homes, while State ownership, State landlordism and State tenancy are conditions upon which their houses are occupied. “The providing of good homes for our people, on suitable conditions, is a very essential work, but the best means of bringing this about is where we clash. They evidently believe the work can best be done by State enterprise, while we, on the other hand, despite the Government’s assertion to the contrary, hold that it can be better done by private enterprise.

“GIGANTIC FAILURE.”

“The present Government was elected on a specific promise to provide thousands of houses annually for the workers of • the country at rentals within their capacity to pay.- There is no questioning the fact that public opinion is that the Government’s housing scheme has been a gigantic failure, While it is true that a.consumable number of houses are beinc built, it is equally true _ that the Government’s incursions into the field of house-building, with its unfair competition, have practically wrecked the industry previously carried on by private enterprise. Even with the large contracts they have placed, there are still not as many houses being built as was the case in the past prior to the inauguration of their scheme. “The Minister of Finance and Honsing Hon. W. Nash, stated in the lJdb Budget, page 2.—‘Plans are in course of preparation to provide for the con struction of some t SOOO hotises ait cost of approximately £3,000,000. lli-s works out at £6OO per house on the average, which was somewhere about tbe ruling rate for house-building by private enterprise at that time. “The Government lias, lion ever, within two years, so increased the cost of house-building that the price to-day is around about £IOOO, making rentals under the Government s scheme 29s for four rooms and a sun porcii, and 32s for five rooms and a sun P°i• “These rentals, which are subject t< a 2s 6d good-tenancy rebate, tue-De yond the ability of many °f th e ivorkers to pay, and the Government has to pick its tenants from men in n ellpaid permanent positions. T hose desire houses, but who have not these Qualifications, need not apply, . tne housing of these is still left to private landlords. Proof of-this is provided in Invercargill, where. further applications have been invited in January to those (received several months ago. “It is agreed that there is need toi a large number of bouses to be built. The shortage is largely due to the Government’s ‘anti-owner . legislation, whereby rents remain stationary, even though all costs, such as rates, repairs, maintenance, anl renewals, have increased enormously. This house shortage in the centres is also largely due to the Government’s action in attracting large numbers from the country to the towns. What is needed today is assistance to farm-workers to obtain homes near’ their work. This would be a double benefit in assisting country workers to obtain houses, and relieving the pressure in the centi es.

RIGHT OF ACCESS. “The more recent legislation denying the light of access to the owners of property unless alternative accommodation is found by the propertyowner has caused untold hardship .to thousands of householders who require their properties for their own use, and, in many cases, have been compelled to take their accommodation in hoardinghouses, hotels, etc., at higher rates than they are receiving from tneir own properties. “The National Party will work in the closest harmony with private housebuilding organisations, such as building societies, and private builders, so. as to make modern houses available to a still greater number of people than is the case at present. Every family will be encouraged to acquire its own home, and the buildinig of houses by private enterprise will be encouraged, by making ample funds available, and in every other possible way. “The unwarranted restrictions placed on the house-builder by the present Government,” said Mr Hamilton, “will be removed, and property-owners will have their rights, and .be incentive to build still more homes, restored to them.”