CLOSING OF HOSTELS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 129, 16 March 1950, Page 6

CLOSING OF HOSTELS

Sir, —Quite a good deal of publicity is being given to the closing of hostels throughout New Zealand, and it is reasonable to assume that the people who will bear the brunt of this retrograde step, will be the workers who at present are living in these institutions. It is a well-known fact that these hostels were started by the last government at the request of various organisations representing both workers and employers, and it is known, too, that in the main they provide reasonable accommodation for young people'who, through circumstances be'yond their control, are forced to live and work away from their homes. These people are either producing goods or providing services needed by the people of New Zealand. It is interesting to recall that Mr Holland has quite often stated that production is the only source of real wealth, and yet he has stated, too, that permits will be granted for extra accommodation to be built for tourists. Comparisons are often odious, but one is led to believe that the tourists who will produce nothing will be provided with accommodation at the expense of our young people who are the main producers and the country’s most valuable asset. G.G.