NEARING THE END

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 96, 20 October 1937, Page 10

NEARING THE END

FINANCIAL DEBATE

HOUSING AND INDUSTRIES

Mr. Lee said that the Capitalist was only concerned in one thing—the production of profits, while the Socialist sought to benefit the overwhelming majority of the people. Opponents of the Goevrnment had said that the guaranteed price policy of the Government was dangerous. That was because it menaced the existing order of things. The guaranteed price gave to the farmer for the first time a definite return on a piecework basis for a definite quantity and quality of goods. Once the State received goods in return for the guaranteed price it considered how those goods could be made available to the bulk of the people. The question had been asked what would happen if prices fell overseas. He had no doubt in his own mind concerning the result of anything of the sort occurring. New Zealand had a superabundance of goods, and he asked whether the people should take in their belts and agree to starve. Because prices fell overseas, why should adjustments be made tq throw the whole physical economy out of gear? New Zealand wanted a £ that represented a definite quantity of purchasing power. Deflation or inflation was not wanted. The Socialist wanted to build up a new economy, and to expand the well-being and leisure of the people. The people starved during the last depression because there were too many goods. He wanted to see an extension of the guarantee price system to almost every item of production. It was a stimulus to production. Too many people had a guaranteed return without making any ■ contribution whatever. NO EMPTY HOUSES. Mr. Lee said that the Labour Uov- - ernment had raised the standard of life of the overwhelming mass of the people,-and as a result empty houses had disappeared. The marriage rate had been accelerated. It was one thing, however, for the people to be placed in a position to enjoy the higher standard of living, and another thing to be able to supply the house shortage in a night. Some people were of opinion that the building of dwellings should be left to private enterprise, but private' enterprise had never tackled the problem. It had never been de- ' monstrated satisfactorily that unassisted private enterprise was able to provide sufficient houses ot proper houses. Had it not been for the State Advances Department there would have been a greater shortage of bouses. Although that Department had been criticised, it had built houses for the people. The shelter value of the houses was just as great during a depression as at any other time. Every house built, every road constructed, or bridge built added to the material, tangible wealth of the country. . , . .. "Enough housing is needed in New Zealand to keep all available labour employed for the next two decades. Mr. Lee continued.' The results of the housing survey were not yet available for the whole of New Zealand, but it was Mr. Lee's opinion that these would reveal an illuminating state of affairs. He would quote a few returns taken from the surveys completed in country towns. In Balclutha 38 houses were found fit only for demolition out of a total of 150 surveyed. In Temuka 65 houses were ready for demolition. This was an indication that New Zealand was a long way behind in 'providing homes for the, people in accordance with ■ the needs of a proper standard of living. On the basis of their.production the people were entitled to the -maintenance of a certain standard of living, and into that standard entered the housing •-factor. As the standard of production rose so should thestandard tit living and the standard of housing, which should be approached from the point of view of a social service instead of a profit-making business. ' CONSTRUCTION WORK. Mr. Lee said that the building scheme had been in operation for 12 months and 1740 houses had been advertised. Construction was being continued as fast as supplies of men and material would permit. Local bodies were now taking advantage of the funds available at low interest rates, and , before another twelve months were gone they would see a big advance on the housing front because of local body activity. Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) said that there was new hope for the Maori. Among other things, a housing scheme had. been introduced for the Maori people. It was not because the Maoris had squandered all their means that they were in destitute circumstances; it was simply because of the administration of previous Governments, which had deprived them of almost all they owned. These people were now making application for new houses and for social benefits,, and the day had now, arrived when some consideration would be given to the needs of the Maoris. Every Maori ' in the Dominion appreciated what was being done for Him today in the way of equality of treatment, and the fact that he was able to enjoy the full right ■ of citizenship. The Maori, as well , as the pakeha, benefited from the new . housing laws, upon which the Minis- . ter of Pensions deserved every con- ■ gratulation. NATIVE AFFAIRS. Mr. E. L. Cullen (Government, , Hawke's Bay), dealt mainly with Na- , 'w affairs and commended the work I of the present Minister and past Min- ; jsters in charge of the portfolios. First consideration should be given to the health of the Maori race, particularly . in regard to the prevalence of tuber- . ' culosis, which was primarily due to the fact that so many Maoris had been 1 living in unsuitable houses. He thought J that the housing scheme for the Maori people would be of great benefit not J only to Maoris in urban areas but to ; those in the coutnry as well If the scheme were put under the Ministry 1 of Housing it would relieve the Min- ' ister in charge of Native Affairs of a '• great responsibility. Mr. Cullen re- < marked on the multiplicity of control i in Native affairs and suggested as a 1 main course of impVovement that the ; Native Department should take over the • functions of the Native Land Board, i The Government should not hesitate to - embark on a. bold policy Jn dealing • with Maori problems. Although : ;they were in the main a lackadaisical i people, he thought they now realised

Another,six speakers took part in the Financial debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, and the end of the discussion is now in sight. Many toprics already discussed were referred to once more, but interest was added to the debate by a Jefence of the housing policy by the Undar-Secretary for Housing (Mr. .1. A. Lecj), and some comments on the position of industry by' the Minister Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G, Sullivan).

the necessity for playing their share in the efforts being made in their interests.