HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1919, Page 4

HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE.

One of the pressing—if not the most pressing—needs of New Zealand to-day is the provision of houses for the people. Sir Joseph Ward, in his manifesto, proposes to deal with it by providing a million sterling a year for four years, in addition to proceeding with the - existing schemes of workers' dwellings and advances to workers, only increasing the amount to £COO.< Sir Joseph is not very explicit about this important subject, except to suggest that local and public bodies should be associated 1 with the Government in carrying out the scheme on plans and specifications furnished by the Government. Four millions is a large amount of money to find for but it is not beyond the resources of the country to do so, and it certainly will not provide all the houses for which there is urgent demand. In proportion to population England is doing far more, and the need here is quite as insistent an it is there. However, Sir Joseph Ward's estimate will do for a start. Experience has shown that the Government cannot, as a rule, carry out work and undertake functions as efficiently and economically as private capital and private management, but in the matter of building a large number of houses it should be able to attain far better results than are .possible for private capitalists. As n. matter of fact

j the day of the erection of houses for j letting purposes, we are afraid, 13 gone. The people have to be housed, and [housed decently, and the Government will be forced to take action whether it wishes to do so or not. The Government is better situated to build large numbers of houses, because it has its own sawmills; it can, by taking large quantities, buy bricks or cement, and import in bulk the necessary fittings cheaper than anyone else. The oxpe-se of preparing plana and specifications would be eliminated, or at least substantially reduced, and 1 the Government would bo able to raise the uoney at the cheapest rate. It could enlarge the scope of the scheme by making cheap money available and providing the building accessories at cost price to large employers of labor desirou's of building for their workmen, who would then be assured of homes at a reasonable rental. The sehome can be made to meet the needs of the country; it can be made self-supporting, costing the country nothing, hut benefiting it greatly in many respects. A commencement brooks of no delay, whoever is entrusted with the reins of government.