BILL TO IMPROVE HOUSING

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24676, 20 September 1945, Page 6

BILL TO IMPROVE HOUSING

SECOND READING DEBATE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 19. Although they supported the principle of the bill, they considered it did not deal with the most urgent aspects of the housing shortage. This was emphasised by Opposition speakers in the second reading debate on the Housing Improvement Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr W. A. Sheat <Opposition, Patea) said all members of the House endorsed the bill’s general principles, but a measure of this kind could effect little improvement at the present juncture. Existing circumstances made the bill little more than an effective piece of political window-dressing. The main job of the country was the provision of more houses. Only when we had overtaken the shortage could we seriously address ourselves to rehousing. Although the House might pass the bill unanimously, little effect could be given to its provisions for the time being, and the House would have been better employed discussing the housing shortage and the cheapening of house building. Mr C. H. Chapman (Government. Wellington North) said Mrs H. Ross (Opposition, Hamilton) had asked that houses should be built with the same urgency as defence buildings were erected. That was a reasonable suggestion, but the answer was that house-building was already on that footing. The results were, lowever, less striking, because most defence buildings were empty shells, not requiring the vast amount of work by skilled tradesmen that went into the completion of houses. The debate was adjourned at 10.30 p.m.