"FROM HOVELS TO PARADISE”

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 10

"FROM HOVELS TO PARADISE”

POSITION OF STATE TENANTS MINISTER ON HOUSING POLICY [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. July 20. “People who have got State houses have come out of hovels into paradise,” said the Minister for Housing (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) during the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives this evening. “And what is more, they are paying about 25 per cent, less xor their houses than they wer„ for their hovels." Ihe MinisL_r said that apart from State houses altogether, the Government had lent more money than any other except for one year during the admi istraticn of Sir Joseph Ward. In 1981 £3,900,000 was lent lor privat building; but this amount had decreased by 1933 to a pitiful £3375. For the year ended March, 193', the total was £2,062,000, and in the coming year the amount would be considerably higher. “I want to pay a tribute to the architects of this country,” said Mr Armstrong. “They have shown a public

spirit that is in sharp contrast to the attitude taken up by some other professional men in this country.” Mr Armstrong said that the housing programme was being held up because of a shortage of skilled men; but the department had 6000 men employed, and had secured the services of every builder in New Zealand who was capable of building a good house.