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120,000 LIVING IN STATE HOUSES

FIGURES GIVEN BY MR SEMPLE LABOUR CONFERENCE DISCUSSION (New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 23. There were 120,000 people living in State houses in New Zealand, said the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) during a debate on housing at the annual conference of the Labour Party, according to a supplied report. Mr M. Moohan, chairman pf the housing committee of the conference, said the construction of pensioners' flats was decided upon less than four weeks ago. Mr R. F. Barter, chairman of the Auckland Housing Allocation Committee, complained that in the allocation of State houses to Maoris their applications were handed to Maori-coun-cils and very often no more was heard of them. In Auckland, the allocation committee would not permit State houses to be exchanged unless the exchange was first approved, because they believed the committees should not take part in feuds between neighbours. The Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) said she was pleased with the endorsement of the proposal for one-bedroom units for age beneficiaries. In anouncing the Government’s policy on this, the Minister of Works had forestalled the National Party’s ideas about housing for old people. Changing of Tenancies Mr F. Langstone, M.P., Roskill, said one of the greatest difficulties to overcome was that the Housing Department did not know if and when tenancies were changed. This was largely because people knew they could not be evicted from State houses. In giving eviction orders, Magistrates had told those evicted that the housing allocation committees would give them another place. Many tenants had welcomed eviction orders, but the Magistrates should consult the committees before issuing orders. The Minister in charge of State housing tenancies (Mr F. Hackett) said the allocation committees were doing a fine job. It had been found that allocations previously made by the State Advances Corporation were not so bad after all, but it was their aim to have as many satisfied tenants as possible. There was a very definite objection to anyone squatting in a State house out of turn, said Mr Hackett. Mr Semple said supply difficulties were being overcome and great credit must be given to the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr C. F. Skinner) for the job he had done. Mr Semple said it was no good raising pensions if landlords were going to let old people rooms in slums. Additional towns were being selected this week at which homes for pensioners would be put under construction immediately. It was the Government’s intention that all old people would be happily housed within three years.

Remits Carried The conference endorsed the following remits: That a greater proportion of State houses for large families be built. That one-bedroom units or hostels for age beneficiaries be built and let at reasonable prices. That allocation committees be set up in each centre. That the allocation of State houses for Maoris be controlled by civilian allocation committees, Maoris to make representation on these committees. No action was taken on a remit proposing that the exchange of State house tenancies be more strictly controlled, nor on a proposal that State houses be not allocated to persons whose incomes exceed £5OO a year. The conference endorsed a proposal that, in the event of a State house tenant dying, sons or daughters over the age of 21 years living in the house be allocated the tenancy. It will be recommended by the conference that it should be declared an offence for a landlord to let a house which is in a state of disrepair without having rendered the dwelling habitable under the requirements of the local body by-laws.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19490524.2.13

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 3

Word Count
606

120,000 LIVING IN STATE HOUSES Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 3

120,000 LIVING IN STATE HOUSES Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25811, 24 May 1949, Page 3

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