WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3459, 13 April 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

HOMELESS IMMIGRANTS.

(Special Correspondent.)

VVELLINGTON, April 12.

In reply to a letter addressed to him by Nlr Peter Fraser, the member for Wellington Central, the Prime Minister states the Government intends to make every effort to increase the number of houses in the Dominion to meet requirements of the people. He points out that including 120 workers‘ dwellings under construotion by the housing branch of the Labour Departlneni; there are about 400 houses being built in Wellington and suburbs at the present time and that there are in all some 183 workers’ dwellings now in course of construction throughout the Doininion. This seems scarcely a complete answer to Mr Fraser’s complaint that “no provision is being niade for the proper and adequate liousing of the thousands of working—clas.< families who are coming out to the country at the invitation of the Government.” As a matter of fact every one of the houses now being erected in Wellington would be rushed by a would-the tenant or purchaser if it were available for occupation. STATE ASSISTANCE.

Mr Massey, however, is fully alive to the needs of the situation. The housing branch of the Labour Department is now negotiating for the erection of 122 ad<'.litionul workers’ dwellings in various parts of the Dorninion, and is arranging for a. large supply of timber for future requirements from an area. of Crown land in the North Island and for the manufacture of joinery and the ilnporta—tlon of building material not readily obtainable here. The comment of practical men upon this» announcement is that freshly sawn timber and hastily manufactured joinery will not give the best results in the erection ofhouses, but the Minister thinizs the experts employed by the Department may be trusted to see the material is in proper condition for use. ' Mr Massey also hopes that “now normal output has been resumed at the coal mines” a full supply of cement will be available for the construction of concrete houses. but people with empty coal lbins are still a little sceptical about tge normal output. BUTTE-R.

Dairy farmers have been looking for high prices for their butter and other milk products on the expiration of the Imperial comniandeer at the end of June and the prices of stock and of land have been considerably influenced by their anticipations. But from an announcement made by the Prime Minister this morning it seems» mobable the Imperial Government on the expiration of the present arrangement again will take control of butter entering the United Kingdom. It ig anxious to open negotiations with New Zealand for the purchase of its exported butter’, and, though it doubtless will be prepared to pay a considerable advance upon the present rate, it is scarcely likely to realise the dreams of some of the more sanguine pnoducers The Prime Minister will discuss the matter later on with representatives of the dairy farmers and the factories, but at the moment the prospect of having to accept ;something less than a free market is not finding much favour with the farmers.’ ' . ‘ POLITICAL MATTERS.

Mr Massey, though still enjoined by his medical adviser to “go slow,” has resumed his full share, and a little more, '.of administrative work. He is not taking any active personal part in the two fby-elections but the Reform Party niachinery, w'n.icll was laid aside to a. great extent during the “truce,” is bein_g restored. Mr MacDonald, the Liberal leader, is in daily attendance at his office in the Government Buildings, but so far he has done nothing to bring the members of his party together, and probably they will not meet till the opening of the session‘. Meanwhile organisation work is being held in suspense and will not be seriously undertaken till the members have had an opportunity to confer. The Labour Party is working quietly and with less aggressiveuess than it has displayed on some former occasions, but its members are keeping very wide awake. Encouraged by the result of the general electio°n in New South Wales they are not unlikely to concentrate largely on electoral reform and in such an effort ‘they would be able to claim support from quite a number of their opponents. i