ADVANCES TO WORKERS BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8263, 17 October 1906, Page 7

ADVANCES TO WORKERS BILL.

In the House of Representatives, yesterday, the Premier moved the second reading of the Government .Advances to Workers Bill. He explained tie provisions of the measure. He said that the main faot was that the machinery of the Advances to Settlers Aot was opened to all workers wanting to bnild houses for themselves and in each a way as to progressive payments as would enable email men to contract to build them. The re-payment might be at any time the borrower, pleased, or it might fce spread ovet 36% years, which meant re-payment by sums comparatively infinitesimal. Having explained the machinery clauses he udnoluded by pointing out the importance and the liberal character of the measure.

Mr Mas߻y agreed, pointing out that he bad in a recent debate this session suggested almost every clause of the Bill in a proposal which bad been defeated.

Mr Buddo claimed that he bad suggested the lines of the Bill last year. Mr Flatman made a similar clain;, and hoped the Bill w"ald be extended to rural workers. Mr Baume congratulated all the men ot«agg«Btions, and thought the limit of earning ought to be raised to 45400 a year.

Messrs Sidey, Laurenson and Bennett, while oordially approving of the Bill, thought the wage limit ought to be higher. Mr Bhodes considered that provision should be made for eaabling workers in the country to acquire substantial plots of land about their houses so as to tide L over the slack times of the year. Messrs Fisher and Barber urged raising the limit of advanoe above £350, as the Bill aimed at helping small men with large families and on a basis of land bought out of their savings.

Mr J. Allen applauded the Bill, but suggested oaution in adding to obligations. The Premier, in reply, pointed out that all the points recommended by the various sneakers were ali in the Government Advances to Settlers Aot, but he was pleased at the general appreciation the Bill had attained. He was not in favour of extending the provisions of the measure, which is intended for people who oanriot help themselves to people who have every facility otherwise. Neither did he like to raise the limit of advance as that might unduly, press on the usefulness of a limited fund.

The Bill was read a second time on the voices.