Housing policy

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 14

Housing policy

Sit,—ls it true that in a television interview last

night Mr W. A. Fraser, member for St Kilda, said that “compulsory acquisition” would be used to acquire old family homes by the State Advances Corporation, and to induce the rightful owners to enter pensioner flats or units? On retirement, the average New Zealander owns one major asset—his home. Is he not to have the right to keep this if he chooses? Then again, if property prices are controlled—an informed person estimated at 38 per cent above Government valuation —how will citizens fare who have paid large prices for houses and owner flats in recent years, and now, for, say, health or business reasons, are forced to sell them? Will they have to take a substantial loss on their properties and write it off to experience?—Yours, etc., INFORMATION PLEASE. November 29, 1972. [The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) replies “The Labour Party policy has never mentioned compulsory acquisition in regard to buying old family homes. If a person does not want to sell his home he will not be forced to. What we do say is that if elderly people find they cannot cope with big gardens, too many rooms and high rates, they should be given the opportunity to move into smaller homes or flats and a fair and just price will be paid to the person concerned when he sells his home. But it has been stressed over and over again that the houses that are purchased will be those put on the market voluntarily.’’]