Workers have ‘best possible deal’

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 15

Workers have ‘best possible deal’

PA Auckland The junior Government Whip, Mr D. M. J. Jones, believes the “ordinary working man is getting the best possible deal today.” He considers the lowincome earner holds an “almost privileged position” and suggests cutting costs to reduce that status. In an address to a meeting of the' Auckland division of the National Party, Mr Jones said he could see no point in building more State houses, at a cost of $3O million a year, when there was a surplus available. The annual repair bill for State houses was Sl9 million and it could be greatly reduced by encouraging tenants to buy the homes. .- He suggested setting deposits at zero for Otara and Porirua, and ;at 5 per cent .for other areas. The move would cut some of the social problems in Otara and Porirua and increase the. cash’ available to the Government., Mr Jones noted that the

Housing Corporation administered thousan<s> of small, outstanding mortgages. Many people were capable of repaying their mortgages in full, but had invested the funds elsewhere at good rates of interest. The corporation could agree to discount by, say, 15 per cent, the outstanding principal amount on mortgages taken out before 1970. That move would release mortgagecollection staff for other work and make more cash available. Mr Jones said he agreed that society should help those who, through no fault of their own. were unable to help themselves. "I disagree that we must do so by providing them with endless sums of money,” he said. "Our social and moral attitudes today have not benefited by the 1970 s solution of throwing money at them.” He said it was time the country limited the duration of some of the benefits to persuade' the beneficiary to do-more for himself.