HOME FOR A WORKER

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 22, 21 October 1937, Page 12

HOME FOR A WORKER

Central Otago “Eviction Case” MINISTER AND MEMBER Allegations that Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) had attempted to obtain Government housing assistance for a man evicted from a house which Mr. Bodkin himself owned were made by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, during the Financial Debate in the House of Representatives last night. A complete denial of the Minister’s statement was given by Mr. Bodkin immediately the Minister had finished his speech. “The member for Central Otago came to my office about three weeks ago,’’ Mr. Semple said, “and saw my private secretary. He made a very pathetic plea on behalf of a casual public works employee engaged on irrigation works, in Central Otago. He said the man had been evicted from his home and made the request that I should find public money for the provision of accommodation for this man and his family.” Mr. Bodkin: I made no such request.

“I gave instructions to have the matter investigated,” continued Mr. Semple, “and I discovered to my amazement that the worker was a married man with a family; that the man had received notice to quit his house; and that the house was owned by the member for Central Otago.” Mr. Bodkin: That is wrong.

“Every word of it is true,” said Mr. Semple. “I have documentary evidence. If I was to accede to a request like that made by a Government member, I wonder what the Opposition would have to say about it.” Mr. Bodkin: I gave the man a £5O section and told him to apply for a housing loan. Mr. Semple: I have had the matter investigated and I have all the reports. “You have not come to me for the facts,” said Mr. Bodkin, “and yon have not got the facts. I will get a statement from the man himself.”

MR. BODKIN’S REPLY

Man Given Section Of Land

Rising to a point of order later in the evening, Mr. Bodkin said: “The Minister has absolutely misrepresented the position and my action. I had for sale a house which for some years was occupied by this man, and as soon as it was sold I told him I would give him a freehold section for nothing, advising him at the same time to apply for a Government housing loan. I sold an adjoining section for £5O, aud the one I gave this man was easily worth that sum. I said I would help him with the finance, and I left him a happy and satisfied man.” Mr. Bodkin said that after he returned to Wellington he received a letter from the man stating that the Public Works Department had offered him single tents following an application for tents to house him and his family while his house was being built. There were tents of the type provided on public works for married men at the Fraser River dam, and the man was quite prepared to pay for their removal to Alexandra as well as to pay rent. He had asked whether Mr. Bodkin would interview the Minister and see whether it would be possible for him to rent the larger tents. “I saw the Minister’s private secretary,” Mr. Bodkin added, “and the reply I received was that the man could get only the single type of tent. I understand that he has'since done so, and is paying rent.”

TAKING OVER OF BANKS

“Matter Not Considered By Government”

A reply that the matter had not been considered by the Government was given by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in the House of Representatives yesterday to Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), who asked when the decision of the Government regarding the taking over of the trading banks would be made public, and whether the Prime Minister would give flic trading banks sufficient lime to enable them to make representations to the Government as regards the windingup of their New Zealand business.