HOUSING AND POWER

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 268, 10 August 1945, Page 8

HOUSING AND POWER

National Development Programme LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

A national development programme tor the current linineial year was outlined by the Minister of Finance. Mr. NASH, in his Budget speech. He said that with the substantial reduction that was taking place in the war programme within the Dominion, particularly on building and construction works, it had beeu possible to provide for a material increase in national development. This was tn line with the Government s policy of providing a sound basis on which to build for post-war development, in addition to having in readiness the utmost facilities for repatriating servicemen. Land was required for settlement ot the men. homes were to be built on the land purchased, and reading was essential. If shipping for the plant and equipment could be provided, electricity must he. made available to supply light, ami power to the new consumers on the land and to the new industries being established. Housing. which of necessity was largely in abeyance while men and materials were diverted to buildings for war purposes, was now being accelerated to the fullest extent that available resources would permit, A further item to which considerable attention was now being iniid wits improvements to the railway system. particularly rolling-stock, in* this vital part of New Zealand’s internal economy must lie ready to play its part in post-war development, and considerable leeway bad to be made up in ibis* connexion. These would absorb most of the additional loan moneys being provided this year. After allowing for funds available al the beginning of the year and miscellaneous receipts, the total loan moneys reunired were £ I<‘>.<’>so.ooo. as compared with £11.118.1100 raised last year. The following figures show the increased orogramme for the more importnni works:---19 11-15. 1915 111. £ £ ll.m-ie- . . . 1.131.090 5.599.900 Electric supply ...2.720.000 1.000.000 Land for .-*c‘l lemciil Nil 2.000.090 Railways improve- , ...meals 313.000 1.000.000 .All thi- money required to l>e provided for these works would again be raised from lending d"plirtincuts ol State.

PRODUCTION OF FOOD New Zealand’s Wartime Effort From the outbreak of war to the end of 1941 New Zealand had shipijed to Great Britain .1,055,000 tons ot meat, 734.000 tons of butter, mid (138,000 lons of cheese, while up to the same date the American forces had been supplied with 132.000 tons of meal, 17.000 ions of butter. (1000 lons of cheese. 10,000 tons of canned mid dehydrated vegetables. 75.000 tons ol fresh vegetables. A total of 4(5.000 tons of biscuits bud also been exported during this period. These figures were given by the Minister ot Finance, Mr. Nash, in his Budget, speech.