LETTING EMPTY HOUSES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 235, 17 July 1947, Page 4

LETTING EMPTY HOUSES

COMPULSION PLANNED LEGISLATION FORECAST BY PRIME MINISTER f (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 16. Legislation dealing with the compulsory letting of empty dwellings would be introduced during the present session, said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives to-day. He thought it was not right that any house should be needlessly empty during the present housing shortage, and Government departments had a duty to set an example to private owners.

Mr T. P. Shand (Opposition, Marlborough)' 1 asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the number of unoccupied houses and other buildings in the hands of Government departments. he would have prepared a list of all such buildings, showing the steps being taken to ensure their reoccupation as soon as possible. Mr Shand said that a house in Blenheim which had been part of the flax factory buildings, had been unoccupied for months. A linen flax hostel at Seddon had been unoccupied for two years. A house at Kaikoura belonging to the Post and Telegraph Department had recently been let after being empty for six months. Public Works Department houses in and round Kaikoura had been unoccupied for months.

Mr Fraser said the cases mentioned would be inquired into. For 12 months now, departments had had an instruction to notify any dwellings that would he becoming vacant and also to give notice immediately they became vacant. The House would have the opportunity of considering the advisability of compelling private owners to let their empty houses. That was in operation in Tasmania and .Victoria and was working very well. Mr C. M. Bowden (Opposition, Kairori): It depends on the conditions. Mr Fraser: That can be discussed by the House.*