HOUSING PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 9

HOUSING PLAN.

SCHEME IN BRITAIN. CONTENTMENT OF PEOPLE. ADVANTAGES OF INSURANCE. After investigations into housing in Britain, Mr. J. T. Jennings, M.P. for Watson in the Australian Federal Parliament, has returned with the opinion that the British people are more contented than the people of the European countries, because they have more social benefits. Mr. Jennings passed through Auckland by the Niagara on his way back to Australia. He said the British housing policy had as its objective the abolition of unfit houses, the replacement of many existing houses, the abatement of excessive overcrowding, and the building of good and cheap new houses. In the vicinity of London large schemes had been completed, and it was estimated that during the last five years in England and Wales one million homes a year had been built, and more than half by private enterprise. The fact that the Housing Board had set out on a housing scheme had greatly stimulated private enterprise, and impetus to a key-industry had greatly assisted allied industries. Mr. Jennings said the British people enjoyed many benefits under their national insurance scheme, and there was no doubt that it would continue to operate. Under the social insurance system they had removed the anxiety of loss through sickness, ill-health or unemployment, and adequate provision was made for old age. experience was that when people were provided for in the evening of their lives there was a feeling of general contentment.