MR. A. L. MONTEITH AT ORIENTAL BAY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 9

MR. A. L. MONTEITH AT ORIENTAL BAY

Mr. A. L. Monteith addressed a meeting at the Tea Kiosk, Oriental Bay, last evening. . The candidate spoke upon the matter of housing, and stated that the Workers' Dwellings Act was a dead letter. The original intention was that the worker with very small savings could secure a dwelling—all that was needed was a £10 deposit—but to-day a worker with a large family who wanted a sixroomed house had to pay not £10, but anything from £100 to £150. The Department of Labour had in hand the erection of about 100 houses in Wellington, and it would take about twelve months to complete their programme. This programme would not solve the grave position that existed in this city. Dealing with the cost of living, the speaker drew attention to the Cost of Living Commission's findings, and stated that the Government should not waste money by setting up commissions and not giving effect to their findings. The Commission had done great work, but the Government had ignored the suggestions made. Dealing with the Government's TJolicy on this great question, the speakerdrew attention to the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act, 1914, which delegated very drastic powers to the Government! Anyone found profiteering was liable to a line of £500, and not one case had been dealt with by the Government. "When the Government candidate tells you that the Government will deal with the cost of living, ask him why they did not avail themselves of the powers conferred upon them by Parliament under the above-mentioned Act," said Mr. Monteith. To-day the people wanted relief from the ever-increase in this direction, and could not look to the present parties, as they have failed in the past. The speaker dealt at some length with the matter of land aggregation.