WORKERS' HOMES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7878, 21 July 1905, Page 2

WORKERS' HOMES.

Following up the reierence contained in the Governor's Speech at the opining of Parliament as to the need lor legislation in the direction of providing homes for the workers, j the Premier at Newtown last Monday made it perfectly clear that the Gcv.i iiment were going to take the matter in hand in earnest. The power of dealihg with »Iris question as conferred on Municipalities had practically remained a dead H'tter, the result being that in the interest of the workers the Government has been forced to come to the rescue in consequnne of the high rents imposed on the occupiers oi dwellings used by the wage earners in or near to cities. The present provisions which exist on this luad have not met the demand ir. r collars on small seel ions

hi land and it is in that direction thai legislation is proposed. Appar- 1 icntiy the Government is favourably iimpu'sseil with the scheme propounded by Mr Frank Watts, or at least with its salient points. In commenting on the subject the New Zealand Times says "It is not clear whether the Government's scheme is based upon that formulated by Mr F. Watts, of New Plymouth, or whether it lias been independently evolved. It duos not, at any rale, embrace all I lie points worked out by Mr Watts in his very oonprehensive scheme' for providing homes, insurance, and relief in cases of sickness or accident. This scheme, if it stands the lest of actuarial investigation, should prove a strong incentive of industry and thrift, and do nir.ch to reduce the present heavy ex penditure on charitable aid ami old age pensions. An example of its working is given by Mr Watts thus: —"A man aged twenty-five years, desiring u> buy a house and section of land valued at £IOO, borrows from a fund this amount, repayable in twenly-live years ; then he insures his life for £;i(Hl under an endowment policy maturing in twenty-five years, and pays a weekly instalment of 10s, 12s fid, or 15s, according to the size of his house and land. This includes principal and interest, premii ill on life, accident, or sickness insurance, and file insurance on the house and furniture." Should the man die at any time after the first weekly instalment has been paid, the house would become the properly of his wife or children. Should he live, llie house would be his own at the end of twenty-live years, and he could draw on the insurance fund for u considerable sum, or, by mutual arrangement, apply the capital to the purchase of an annuity of nearly i-10 per annum. The scheme also contemplates relief in cases of total disablement by sickness or accident ; and it is proposed that if the pelson in employment, bis weekly payments shall be deducted from bis wages by his employer. There are some points in Mr Watts's schemethat would not suit in a Slate-man-aged concern ; but it seems desirable that as many features as possible should tie included in the proposals of the Government." When it is seen that a tenant paying ten shillings a week to a landlord would, in twenty years, have paid over £52", and yet have acquired no interest in the property, it becomes evident what a benelit the adoption of a scheme such us that .propounded would confer working men. The machinery of carrying out the proposals already exists in the Government I.ife Insurance Department, and there is therefore no reason why the pasl inaction of the Municipalities should not be atoned for by the prompt and effective steps contemplated by the Government. There is a consensus of opinion that some such action is necessary, and as to its justice there can be uo possible doubt whatever.