THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 October 1919, Page 6

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

INTERESTING STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT.

MR MASSEY INDICATES IMPORT- ’ ANT «MEASURES. WELLINTON, Sept. 29. Members -of the House of Representatives showed much curiosity to'lig'm as to me Goverllmeut’~s mtention in le. gafzd to housings. - 1

Mr Svmple (Welling-ton. South) was ’thc .'-xs: qucstcionex-. He asmzd the ;Pri'mv Minister whether it was his in—tention “to back up his assertion made by him earlier in the session to the effect thatihe would «sa.feguard those people living in rented homes by making permanent the rogu-la.’ri-on providing‘ for 8 per cent profit being allowéd pro- ; perty-owners. ’ ’ _

Mr Massey replied that any promise he had -made would b_e- -given eifect to before the end of the session. '

_ Mr Ell (Christ-church‘ South) asked, in view of the urgency in regard to housmg, whether he would consider the advisibility of advancing on loan without a poll of ratepayers, to enable local‘ bodies to provide houses for members of their staffs.

Mr Massey said a Bill dealing with the housing question was at. present in the hands of the law draftsrnen, and would_be ready for reference to Cab~ inet atthe end -of the present week. It would prob'ably be introduced early next Week. The matter of advancing to local bodies for housing purposes was under -c~.on‘sideration of Cabinet.

“The question ‘of providing houses

for railway employees,” said Mr Massey to another member, “is under con-

‘ siderafion by the Railway .Department. A number of houses 11_a.ve already been authorised, and will be proceeded with - without delay.” . . ‘‘The new plans,” interjected Ml‘ Ell, “are very good. I have had an opportunity ;of examining them.” ' Notice was given by Mr Fraser to ' ask the Prime Minister if, pending the solution of the housing problem by the State and municipal action, he would‘ !introduce' legislation applying Sub-sec~ tion 1, Clause 313,’. of the War Legislagtion Act, 1918, to all tenancies of '.dwelling houses, so that the wholesale . ejections of tenants at present proceed I ing and intensifying the housing prob-I Item, should be stopped. The section in question applies ‘to soldiers, returnled soldiers, their wives, or dependents, and restrict landlords’ right to claim possession of a dwelling. ' ' “In View of the large number of houses being erected,” said Mr A. M.: Myers, “is it the Prime Minister ’s intention to introdunce a. Town Planning Bill this session, and, if not, will he see ‘that dwellings are erected in ad, cordancé with modern I‘-o.Wn—planning principles ‘l" ' ‘_‘lt will not be possible to deal with town planning this session,” said Mr Massey, ‘iinuch as I would like to; but any nousesyerectcd will be in con- - formity with «the best principles of . town planning”, ' I