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INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to give information on tlie Government's housing policy, and to show how the Government's various administrative measures are related to its main objectives. Importance of Housing Believing that adequate housing is essential to the welfare and happiness of the family group, which is the basis of our whole social life, the Government aims to provide the conditions under which every family can obtain housing with sufficient comfort, space, light, ventilation, sanitation, and convenience for healthy, harmonious living. The Government also realizes the effect of home life on efficiency in industry, and is aware, too, that public health demands good housing standards. But, like many other countries, New Zealand has a housing shortage which is causing great anxiety and often disruption in those families who have to live in makeshift accommodation. Social Value of Home Ownership The Government has great faith in the social value of home ownership. An important part of its policy is to encourage people to own their own homes, for it considers that home building and home ownership develop initiative, self-reliance, thrift, and other good qualities which go to make up the moral strength of the nation. Home owners, too, by building up an equity in their properties, are saving in one of the safest and most -effective ways, while they have the incentive to maintain and improve their properties, and so increase the material assets of the community. Above all, home ownership promotes responsible citizenship. To the community it gives stability, and to the home owner it gives a constant sense of security, pride, and well-being. At all times the ■emphasis of Government policy will be on private building, and families will be encouraged to build for themselves the type of dwellings best suited to their needs. In the past there has been a tendency for people to rely on the State to provide them with rental homes. The Government's aim is to correct this tendency, and induce people with sufficient means to invest their own funds in homes of their own. The State housing policy of recent years has exaggerated the demand for rental houses. Rentals were based on costs now far out of date, and this has not only placed a burden on the taxpayers, but has discouraged initiative to save and build with private means. While State houses were available to all income groups at uneconomic rents, housing finance and the housing position generally remained distorted. Role of Government in Housing The Government considers that when there is a serious housing shortage affecting the community well-being, as there is at present, the Government's function is : (a) To examine housing needs and to promote the broad lines of the country's housing programme. (b) To encourage conditions that will enable people to provide houses for themselves. (c) To assist groups with special housing problems, such as : (i) People in lower income groups : (ii) Those in rural areas : (iii) Returned servicemen : (iv) Maoris : (v) State employees. (d) To ensure that finance.is available to private home builders, local bodies, and other organizations concerned with the housing needs of the people. (e) To endeavour to increase building resources of materials and labour, and to encourage the best use of these resources in housing and to meet other constructional needs.

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