HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 12

HOUSING PROBLEM

Present Shortage About 20,000 MINISTER’S IDEAL “One’s Own House With a Door to Shut” A statement that there was a shortage of between 16,000 and 20.000 houses in New Zealand at the present time was made by the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, when moving the second reading of the State Advances Corporation Bill in the House of Representatives last night. "The idea behind the Bill is to provide the same advantages to those working ’ land in the country as to those who wish to build homes in the urban areas,” said the Minister. “I do not think the members of the House realise the tragic nature of the shortage of houses in New Zealand at the present time. During the past four years the construction of houses has been 75 per cent, below what it should have been. The figures have rangedbetween 1700 and 2500, while we need at least 5000 and more likely 6000 houses each year. “There is no doubt that there is a shortage of between 16,000 and 20.000 houses in the Dominion at the present time, which means that there are as many families which are not properly housed. Some of the members know how that position is being exploited.” With the passing of the Bill care would have to be taken to watch the activities of the land agents, the landgrabbers and the landowners. Those who controlled the raw material from which houses were built would take their share of the advantages given to the workers by the State. “We have to find a way of stopping that.” said Mr. Nash, “but all those who think of the welfare of the country and who look at the real advance that is being made toward something approximating to prosperity will in the long run do better by keeping land values on a normal basis. If they do not do that I don’t know what steps will have to be taken, but whatever steps are necessary we will take them.” Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition. Riecarton) : Usehold? Mr. Nash: I don’t know any better way of ensuring that, if you want to use the facilities of the State or of the community for building homes, than to give the facilities to those who are going to use the homes. I don’t know any better way than the principle of the usehold, and we will encourage it right to the full. “The purpose of the Bill is to provide homes and to enable farmers to develop their lands,” said the Minister. "The provision of homes will do more toward the stability and progress of this Dominion than any other single event that I know of.” Mr. Nash said that he could go into three or four homes in the Hutt Valley and find people who had written to him complaining that they had been told that they were to be put out of their houses and that they had nowhere to go. That was something for which no price could compensate the sufferer. "We have got to alter that as soon as it is possible,” he declared. "The job is not easy, but so far as this Bill will lay the foundation of the machinery to enable it to be done, we are going to do it.” Generous, Conservative. “The principles of the administration of this corporation will be generous; in operation, conservative, it is necessary for the officers, they are to be competent, to make sure that tlie persons applying for loans are worthy of consideration. A generous principle will operate, and the character of the individual will be one of the large factors in determining what he is to receive. If we lend money to someone to build a home it will be to build a home to live in. If we provide money for the development of land it will be to help the farmer to develop his farm and to get the best returns from it, not to sell. “The Bill is of more importance than most legislation that conies before the House. It is the third step along the road the Government is travelling. The first step was taken when we took control of credit, the second when we placed the farmer in a position so that when he worked his land he would be sure of some return for his labour. Now it is proposed to find him tlie necessary money to enable him to go on, and to enable the best type to build homes. It is only houses that make homes possible. We are going to make it possible for people to build for themselves one house, the door of which every person can shut, and we are hoping that it will be of such a size that there will be one room in which every individual can be alone to realise himself or herself to the full.” National Problem.

“Housing is a national problem, and it is a social duty to provide good houses for our people.” said the Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition, Wallace). The Bill, he said, made no provision for a housing policy, but simply transferred to the Corporation two Ac's dealing with housing. Housing, he added, was a problem, and more particularly so in Wellington and in the electorate represented by Mr. Nash. He questioned whether any system of housing was as good as that of the building societies. Those institutions had done wonderful work in the building of homos, and he commended their work to the Minister when framing his housing policy.