STATE ADVANCES.

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1923, Page 4

STATE ADVANCES.

BILL PASSES HOUSE. MASSEY (.'ROSS QUESTIONED (Special to “Argus,”) WELLINGTON, July 20. Oue peculiarity of Parliament is that when every member is in favour of n Bill, it is more talked on dhan if 'half the members are against it. The members discussed the State Advances Bill until nearly one o 'clock this morning, when the House went into Committee on the Bill. The debate on the State Advances PJU was resumed in committee. Mr Wilford again called attention to the fact of £2,000,000 being taken from thft State Advances Department and transferred to another Department. Mr Massey said that Mr Wilforil was always talking about that two millions. He (Massey) did not believe in having money lying idle too much in one Department. He had shifted it to another, and had paid interest on it. Mr Wilford asked why the two millions had not been paid back. The Prime Minister said it was paid back, as a portion of the money appropriated was this amount. Mr Wilford:—“Then the amount supposed to have been put to the State Advances this year is not put there! It is only paying back a debt that is owed! ’ 1 Mr McCombs:—“lt is extrnorilJ.ary that two millions should have been bile in the State Advances Department and yet. no one could get money to build houses?” Mr Massey: “That is nut so. The applications were dealt with as they came in.” A Labour interjection: “There mils', have been thousands waiting on rite doorstep. ’ ’ Mr Massey: “The Advances have advanced over eight hundred thousand pounds per month this last three months. Allowing for ninety days to the quarter, that means £!).S00 per day. ’ ’ Mr Monteith: “For workers?” Mr Massey said he could not say what amount had been advanced Joi houses. Later he said they paid out last quarter over £713,714. The Minister of Mines said it v. as impossible to build- Houses in the four centres could be let to workers foi me day's pay per week. Houses could be built in suburbs, and the workers should have cheap tares. Atr Holland said the problem was how a working man was to provide a house and still maintain his standard of living. No working man could afford to pay more than one day’s wages in payment of rent for a home. 'in proposed legislation would bo of no use on the Statute Book unless it were administered sympathetically. He ask-o whether the applicants would have fiio option of choosing under which system they could draw—the loans under 5 per cent arrangement, or the £lO deposit. If so, it would be a very good thing. The debate dragged heavily. After supper there was not a quorum. Tne Chairman of Committees therefore ordered the bell to be rung, and members hurried back. Every clause up to Clause Seven was agreed to on the voices. Air Parry moved an amendment, which meant the throwing open of the land held by the Government for workers’ dwellings. The Chairman ruled the amendment to be an appropriation, and so not in order. Air Masters moved an amendment, which meant that money borrowed to pay off mortgages be not charged one per cent extra. The house divided on this question, and the voting was: For the amendment 28, against 32. Atr J. AIcC. Dickson voted against the Government, but several members were absent, without pairs. Air Fraser asked the Prime Alinistcr whether, in the case of the prices of building material going up when the Bill becomes law, he would take steps to have the prices of materials fixed. AFr AFassey said he would not hav? any exploitation of the public because this Bill became law. He would take steps to prevent it. He would also consult his colleagues about throwing the Government land open for workers dwellings, and would road those lands. The Bill was read a third time, and passed.