BRITAIN’S HOUSING

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1945, Page 5

BRITAIN’S HOUSING

DEBATE IN COMMONS . RUGBY, March 22. Opening a two-days’ debate in the Commons on housing, the Minister of Health (Mr Willink) said that, in view of the tremendous amount of work to be done, including the building of new houses and the repair of war damage, the Government intended to treat the first two years after the defeat of Germany as a period of national emergency, when emergency measures must be taken, and it would give improvement of housing conditions the highest priority. The Government believed that with good Administration the end of the second year should see house production on a balanced basis; 220,000 houses should be completed, and the remaining 80,000 houses, due for completion within three or foul’ months. Half the building craftsmen of the country had been concentrated—and would have to be concentrated for some substantial time —in Greater London. By a great effort, the Winter target of repair of 719,000 houses was going to be achieved.

Mr Arthur Greenwood said the White Paper on housing was even bleaker than Bleak House. Time had been wasted in the past three years, and the situation was not recoverable in the next few years. The problem had been seriously piishandled. He begged the Government and the House, in the interests of our stability of life after the war, and the interests of harmony in the community, and in the interests of justice, to proceed with all speed on this great'task.'"