RURAL HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 232, 28 June 1945, Page 5

RURAL HOUSING

Government Assistance

Wanted

•Alarm at “the enormous expenditure of money on city and suburban houses and the shortage of dwellings iu country areas” was expressed by the National Dairy Conference iu Wellington yesterday. It was stated that the present, policy encouraged people to seek houses in city and suburban areas to the detriment of the country population and the production of primary products, so vital to the national economy.

If the policy of the Government, was to build houses for workers, said one delegate, it might reasonably be claimed that a certain amount of money should be spent in close proximity to dairy factories.

“Why should we pay 4 per cent, for money to build houses when the Government. using our money, builds houses in the city for other people at 1J per cent.?” asked another delegate. Mr A 11. Hanson (Tamaki) suggested that the National Dairy Federation, in collaboration with any other farmers' organizations, should make a survey and then go to the Government with a plan showing where houses were needed for men engaged in rural activities. He did not think they would get far without such a plan. Another speaker quoted a ease where a concrete plan had been submitted, but nothing had been achieved. Supporting the- remit, the chairman, Mr. F. Parsons, said that, if dairy companies had failed individually, they might succeed collectively.