IMPETUS TO HOUSING

Evening Star, Issue 25928, 21 October 1946, Page 8

IMPETUS TO HOUSING

NATIONAL PARTY POLICY j i•r • • MR HOLLAND'S OPENING SPEECH l (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October ,21. Since the opening of the election campaign by the Right Hon, P. Fraser last Tuesday there has beeir keen interest in the policy proposals which the Leader,of the National Party,-Mr S. G. Holland, is expected to announce at liis opening meeting at Christchurch to-night. The National Party policy has been purposely held back for the opening of the election campaign, no hint of its contents having been given, except in very general terms. It is understood, however, that following Mr Fraser’s speech, in which there was little emphasis oh positive proposals for the future, there is a certain measure of confidence in National Party circles that Mr Holland’s speech will bear a more constructive character than Mr Fraser’s; Although there is not expected to be any single spectacular bid for public support, the general tenor of Mr Hoi-, land’s speech is expected to reveal detailed attention to the special needs and difficulties of various sections of the community. Housing is certain to claim a good deal of his attention, and in view of the heavy disadvantages Under which the private-home builder is at present labouring, and the attention which the party is known to have devoted to this problem, it would not be surprising if some additional financial encouragement to private building is announced. : ; L The National Party is known to hold the view that the housing crisis cannot be'solved effectively unless there is more private building, but in view of to-dayV high costs, which place the private individual at a pronounced disadvantage, it is held that.,-impetus cannot be given to private housebuilding without Government assistance. What may possibly emerge .is a loan or subsidy , scheme,' with a residential condition extending over a period of years to ensure that houses, built with this aid are not sold within a specified term, unless first offered to the Government. A scheme along these lines is believed to be in vogue in Sweden. SALE OF STATE HOUSES. The National Party's view'that Stdte tenants should have the right to purchase the houses they occupy is likely -to be reiterated by Mr Holland, • possibly with a'specific explanation of the conditions of sale. These are expected to contain some novel provisions, including, it is forecast, the crediting of portion of the rent already paid, as part of the deppsit that will be required from each purchaser. TRADE AND INDUSTRY. Much interest will be paid to "those passages dealing with trade and , industry. While expressing an aversion to import restrictions Mr Holland has more than once acknowledged .that under present’ conditions 6ome form of control must remain. There is a general impression. however, that'a less rigid policy would be pursued, and that responsibility for the laying down of policy would be taken out of the hands of the Customs Department land Minister of Finance and handed over to a Board of Trade, • on which the various interests concerned, including in particular the consumers, would be represented. While he is definite on the, point that the New Zealand public are entitled, to an abundance and variety of satisfactory quality, Mr Holland has repudiated charge? that New Zealand industries would be jeopardised; and the only proviso he is likely ,to .make is that industries must render efficient service if they are to justify a Protectionist policy. PROFIT SHARING.

Workers in industry will have an interest in his profit-sharing proposals, based largely on personal. experience in his Christchurch factory. In the matter of profit-sharing Mr Holland is a real enthusiast, as he believes that not only is a fuller distribution of the profits ‘from extra production fair and equitable, but also that the wideradoption of profit-sharing schemes will obviate much "industrial trouble. . There has been tio lack of scepticisin quarters ad to the feasibility of introducing profit-sharing schemes, but people who have Mr Holland’s confidence believe he is sufficiently, keen on the idea, to make a serious effort to sweep away, the. obstacles. , '; It is, thought likely, tob, that some form of tax remissions on extra earnings may be offered'as an inducement to workers to par+ ticipate. In all his campaign speeches, Mr Holland can..be expected to emphasise the importance of maintaining and increasing production if higher living standards are to. be obtained, and as he has declared that a rising scale of taxation on overtime earnings of workers, tends, to? defeat this objective, some relief may also be offered under this heading. ; Dealing with primary industries he will certainly proclaim 'producer-con-trol ot marketing, and guarantee mini-' muni and maximum prices as planks in his party’s policy. Special attention may be given to. closer settlement and the breaking in of new. land. National Party members in Parliament have advocated that greater opportunities should exist for practical men jvith little or no capital to set; up as independent farmers; Generous financial aid will probably be offered to sharemilkers, farm ' workers, and farmers’, sons, andj it is also hinted in well-informed quarters that a' sharefarming scheme, containing some rather novel features,' may be announced.-