ELECTIONS IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26126, 31 May 1950, Page 7

ELECTIONS IN N.S.W.

POLICY OF LABOUR PARTY HOUSING RECORD CLAIMED SYDNEY, May 30. Delivering his policy speech for the New South Wales elections to be held on June 17, the Premier (Mr J. McGirr) said he was proud of the Government’s achievements in housing. He had promised three years ago that the target was the construction of 90.000 houses in three years. During his term of office 83.000 houses had been built and occupied, or put under construction. It was the greatest housing drive in the history of New South Wales. If returned,; Labour would continue this drive by still further increasing housing production, importing large numbers of prefabricated houses, reviewing home building finance terms, establishing a home builders’ bureau, staffed by architects and builders, to give advice ‘to owners and builders, still further reducing the rents of Housing Commission homes, and by retaining rent control. He also promised to retain control oyer the prices of essential commodities, to complete and electrify suburban and country railways, to expand bus services, to establish deep water ports from Eden to the Richmond river, and to further expand education facilities. Pledging that Labour would reduce shortages by increasing production, not by reducing standards, Mr McGirr said, “Our shortages are shortages of growth. They are a sign of our progress and of our hopes, not of our despair. We are producing more goods than ever before in our history. There is more food in our homes, and we have grown from a population of 2,750.000 in 1939 to almost 3,250.000.”