RURAL HOUSING

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1940, Page 11

RURAL HOUSING

Amending Bill DWELLINGS ON FARMS. WELLINGTON, July 31In the House to-day, moving the seednd reading of the Rural Housing Bill, the Minister of Housing, Hon. H T. Armstrong, said that there was nothing of a contentious nature in the measure, which only made certain necessary amendments to the existing law. The Minister explained at length the provisions of the Bill. Replying to a question asked by the Member for Stratford, Mr W. J. Poison, the previous evening, as to the establishment of small villages for farm workers, Mr Armstrong said that though these may be necessary and desirable, it was entirely foreign to the provisions of the present Bill, which dealt only with the erection of dwellings on farms. “I would like to point out,” said the Minister, “that provision is already made under the Counties and Housing Acts for local bodies to borrow money from the State Advances Department to build houses for their employees, and this would meet the suggestion made by Mr Polson.” Where County Counciles would not assist farmers to build houses for their employees, said the Minister, there was still a provision, under the existing law, for the State Advances Department to lend money direct to a farmer for rural housing; but in this case, the farmer would have to pay 4 1-8 per cent, interest, as against 31 per cent, under the Rural Hous’ng Act.

Mr Broadfoot: And the farmer would also lose the subsidy. Mr Armstrong: Yes, but he could not blame the Government for that. He would have to blame a “stick in the mud” County Council.

Mr Polson said he thought the legislation, so far as it went, was good, but he thought it essential that the Bill should provide for village housing.

Messrs E. J. Cullen (Govt., Hawke’s Bay) and S. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawa) both commended the Bill. The latter said he did not think it would iron out all of the difficulties. The second reading debate was interrupted by the tea adjournment at 5.30.

BILL PASSED.

MINISTER CONGRATULATED.

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., July 31

The debate on the second reading of th e Rural Housing Amendment Bill was continued in the House •at 7.30.

Members of the Opposition geneially congratulated the Minister. Mr. Armstrong, on the introduction cu the measure

The Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, stated the Bill was a good one, and it would provide amenitiss for the rural workers which were urgently required. After Elon. Mr. Armstrong had implied, the Bill was read a second time. At this stage urgency was granted for the passing of the Bill through the remaining stages.