PROBLEMS OF HOUSING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26870, 24 October 1952, Page 3

PROBLEMS OF HOUSING

STATE POLICY ON CARE OF AGED MR MCALPINE REPLIES TO CR. BALDWIN (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, October 23. Defending the Government’s housing policy and its policy for caring for old people, Mr «J- K. McAlpine. Government member of Parliament for Selwyn, today replied to criticism made yesterday by Cr. C. Baldwin, t chairman of the Christchurch City Council’s housing committee. Referring to Cr. Baldwin’s reported remark that ‘‘it is only a ro.tten political stunt to shift the aged from Howardville,’* Mr McAlpine said: “When these people were taken 19 miles away from Christchurch, its amenities, and their friends, and put in a military camp, an agreement was signed by the then Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) that they had no security of tenure, and would give possession whenever required to do so by the Army. Cr. Baldwin must know this.” Mr McAlpine said that, replying to a question- he had asked in Parliament and on other occasions, the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) had given an assurance that the pensioners would not be moved from Howardville until suitable and satisfactory alternative accommodation had been found, unless a war emergency demanded their earlier removal. “I am sure even Cr. Baldwin would not expect these people to have to stay in a military target area in time of war,” he said. ‘‘Cr. Baldwin appears to think that, for political reasons, these aged people should be condemned to live indefinitely in this bleak camp, 19 miles from their city and their friends and relatives,” Mr McAlpine said. ‘‘Concerning voting prospects, my majority in Selwyn is nearly 2000, and I am quite satisfied I will get as high a proportion of the 134 votes at Burnham next time as I did in 1951.” Recent Housing Figures Referring to Cr. Baldwin’s statement that the Harewood transit housing camp would still be in use in 10 or 12 years, Mr McAlpine asked whether Cr. Baldwin had forgotten who established it, and pointed out that in three years of the present Government’s administration, nearly 50,000 houses had been built—some thousands more than in any three-year period under the previous Government. Cr. Baldwin had complained because the Government imported 2000 prefabricated houses, and apparently did not want homes, but “only wanted to make political capital ont of the housing position.” said Mr McAlpine. Describing the Government’s policy for the care of old people, Mr McAlpine said the Government had a record of which it was proud. When it took office in 1949, there was absolutely no policy, and no State department was charged with responsibility for the problem of the care of the aged. In April, 1950, the Government announced a policy which had been approved by all who worked in the social welfare field. The State subsidy for homes for the aged was increased from 33 to 50 per cent.; the Health Department was charged with administering Government policy; old people’s welfare committees were set up and encouraged in the major centres; and a complete survey of the problem was undertaken. Mr McAlpine said. To date the Government had approved grants of £358,000 as subsidies to charitable organisations, he said. That was providing for 522 beds for elderly persons. “Might I suggest that in future Cr. Baldwin devotes his energies to looking after the housing aspect of the City Council’s affairs, and tries to do something constructive towards alleviating the housing problem, and not spend his time deploring the smallness of his infinitesimal'audience and making incorrect derogatory statements, distorting facts to gain political objectives,” Mr McAlpine concluded.