Housing by Ballot

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 11

Housing by Ballot

Sir. —During the last few weeks there ’ has been serious perturbation in both I town and country concerning the unemployed outlook for the winter. Several ’ months ago I submitted a proposal to the . Government which, if adopted, would absorb a very considerable number of men at standard wages. Brielly the proposal : was that permission be granted to form li-rminating building societies in every city ami town. Each would have 8,000 shareholders at 2/6. and when the 8.000 was reached, :i ballot would be taken, and the drawer of the winning marble would have a house erected for him, to his own design, at a cost of £l,OOO, less 10 per cent, for management expenses. This would not be a lottery in the ordinary sense, as no money would pass, and | there would not be a long list of prizes. It would really be a. co-operative attempt io pul im’ii back into employment at I standard wages in the key industry. > Those who suggest that scheme might result in over-building, have not considered the fact that houses are empty because a sufficient number of men are not. receiving standard wages. Tiie effect of employing men throughout the country in erecting houses at award wages would lie to stimulate ail branches of trade by nutting money into free circulation. The art: unions at present being conducted are doing little, if anything, to case the unemployment: problem. On the contrary. (bey are talcing large sums of money from circulation, ami devoting them t<* settling (lie bank overdraft of various institutions, or Io enabling individuals to take trips round Hie world. There is little wonder that, they are being opposed on economical. as well as ethical grounds. 'l’lie scheme 1 have propounded <-oii--1 i.-iins no gre.-ilei- element: of chance than Hie ordinary ballot, of a building society. As il. is designed to pul money into free ciivulation and to assist unemployed, it could not. well lie opposed by either the elinrc lies or busines men. At the request of lhe Minister of Internal Affairs. I uiet him several weeks ago and discussed the proposition with him. He then , staled llml Hie m.-iHci- was a policy one. ami would have to go before Cabinet. I am anxiously waiting, ami I mu sure the gnat mass of Hie people will be anxiously wailing, to know whether Cabinel is ■ prepared to give effect to a proposition Hint lias rei.-eived wide publicity through- 1 out lhe Dominion, and has been generally ' approved.— I am, etc. , 1 ARTHUR 11. VILE. ' Greytown. Al.-iy I. 1