UNFAIRNESS DENIED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22407, 14 August 1947, Page 3

UNFAIRNESS DENIED

STATE _HOUSES ALLOCATION METHODS IMPROVEMENT SOUGHT (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 14 Allegations of “political interference” in the allocation of State houses led to some willing exchanges in the House of Representatives yesterday when the merits of the experiment recently inaugurated in Palmerston North of allocating dwellings upon the recommendation of a non-departmental committee composed of local citizens were under discussion. In answer to a question by Dr. A. Finlay (Govt. North Shore), as to the success of the experiment and the possibility being extended to other centres, the Minister in charge of the State Advances Corporation, Mr W. Nash, said that the method appeared to be working satisfactorily "It has, however, been in operation for only a limited period and it is proposed to give the experiment a trial over a period of some months before deciding whether to set up similar committees in other towns,” he said.

Dr. Finlay said that it had been actually stated in some quarters that by putting up a certain sum of money a person could get a State house. Such a statement was perfectly untrue. So iong as one person in the Dominion had an impression that improper methods were being adopted in tiie allocation of houses, every effort should he made to eradicate that idea.

Mr A. C. Baxter (Govt. Raglan), said that allegations about corrupt methods did come to light from time to time, and he had had to assure people that to the best of his knowledge the people in the State Advances Corporation associated with the allocation of a house in his area were honest men. In many cases applicants had become desperate ;md had resorted to desperate means m order to acquire houses. “I believe that the allocation of State houses should be made as public as possible,” said Mr T E. Skinner (Govt, fiamaki. He could not 'see why the allocation should not be patterned on the method of rehabilitation committees which had worked most successfully. Many members of Parliament had had the experience of people coming to them either seeking their assistance in getting State houses or complaining that houses had been allocated to persons whose need did not warrant it.

Mr A. S. Sutherland (Oppos. Hau raki): A lot of it is due to political in terference.

Tins was immediaately and emphatically denied by Mr Skinner, who declared that any member making such an allegation in the House should be prepared to get on his feet and back it up with evidence. Questioned by the acting-Spenker, Mr C. Carr, Mr Sutherland gave an assurance that he had not intended his remark to reflect on any member of the House.

The charge that there was political interference had no foundation and was most unfair, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. E. Parry. The Palmerston North committee had had only four or five meetings, and was still straightening out initial problems, said tiie Minster in charge of State housing. Mr F. Hackelt, who added that every suggestion ot corrupt practices in the allocation of State houses was immediately investigated and no case of bribery of a civil servant had been discovered.