THE HOUSING BILL
DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, AMENDMENTS MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In Committee on tha Housing Bill, the discussion on clause 1 was on the lines of the second reading debate, until nearly nine 'o'clock, when it passed. On clause 3, Mr Parr suggested that an effort should be made to erect houses tasteful in design, »nd from that the discussion shifted to the question as to who was to supervise the Department, members contending that a special department should be created, to be run by a man with imagination, and that it should not be managed by the Labor Department, which already had enough to do. Mr Massey defended the Labor Department, which already had the matter in hand, and he fe.lt confident that the present Secretary of Labor would prove capable of doing what was expected of him. He waß not going out of New Zealand for his officers. On clause 1, defining the constitution of the Housing • Board, the Premier agreed to an, amendment under which the superintendent and deputy superintendent of workers' dwellings shall hold office on the board until successors are appointed, and that the board shall include an architect and engineer. In clause 13, dealing with the limitation of income, the Premier agreed to extend eligibility to all workers having an income up to 4300, with an additional £2O in respect of every dependent. An .amendment will be introduced later by Governor's message. In clause 15, the Premier moved an amendment fixing the interest" at 5 per cent, with half peT cent rebate for prompt payment. Members suggested that, the interest should be 4 per cent, and the Premier said, he would gladly make it so if the cost of material fell, but he could not do so at present. In any case he would take.it into consideration. The amendment was agreed to. A lengthv discussion tool* place on the clause under which dwellings must not lie sold without the consent; of the Board, members being generally agreed that the clement of speculation should he eliminated, but how this was to be done provided the greatest diversity of opinion. * Finally, the House agreed 'to the amendments moved in clauses 21 and 21a by the Premier, which strengthened the position of the board in supervising and sanctioning sales, and the clauses passed. In Part IlVSpeeial settlements for public servants"—ln clause 35 Mr Massey agreed to insert the restrictive provisions on sales previously agreed to in clauses 21 and 22. When Part 3 of the Bill,. providing that loans might be made to employers to enable them to erect homes for their workers, came up Mr. Holland moved to ' strike the whole section out: on the ground that if the employers owned the houses it would give them an unfair advantage over the employe Js/who, in the case of a strike or a lock-out. might be turned out of their homes. Mr. Massey said he thought it was unlikely that such a contingency would arise in New Zealand, but in any.case he would see a regulation was framed to prevent it. In such an event ho would also see that the tenants were protected by a regulation against unfair rents Mr. Holland however persisted in his amendment, and called for a.division. The amendment was lost by 44 to 4. Messrs. HoHand, Fraser, Selnple, and McCombs voting for it. In Clause 48, power was given to Harbor Boards to erect homes for their employees whether permanent or casual. Jn Part 5 power was given to local bodies to raise loans for workers' dwellings without taking a poll of ratepayers. Part 0 was added to the Bill defining the term "worker" and increasing thf amount of a loan that may.be granted to workers, under part 3 of'.the State Advances Act, 1913, in accordance with thp Premier's promise last night. A new clause, moved by Sir .Joseph Ward, was added that the'provisions of the Family Protection Act shall apply to the Housing Act. The Bill was then reported from Committee as amended, and on the third reading the Labor Party entered a pro. test against the inclusion of Part 3 Mr the reasons given in Committee. The Bill was supported by Sir Jpscph Ward and Messrs. Harris and Young The Bill was read a third time. . The House rose at 1.55 am.
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Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 5
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726THE HOUSING BILL Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 5
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