HOUSING REPAIRS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1945, Page 7

HOUSING REPAIRS

Removal of Slums

BILL PASSES SECOND READING.

P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 20 Aspects of the housing problem were further debated' in the House of Representatives to-day when the second reading on ‘the debate of the Housing Improvement Bill was resumed. One point at issue was whether Maori housing should. be exempt from the powers to be given the local bodies to have housing improvements carried out to substandard houses. Mr. C. G. G. Harktr (Nat. Waipawa) urged consideration of the adoption of a subsidy principle or the appointment of local bodies as agents of the State for the purpose of carrying'out work. Hon. H. G. R. Mason said the conditions of Maori housing generally were unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, it was not 'a case of nothing being done. There was an organisation in the Native Department instituted to push forward building for the Maori, and now the war had .ceased, there was no doubt that progress would be active and vigorous. Mr. R. M. Algie (Nat. Remuera) said that all Maoris with whom he had discussed' the matter considered they should shoulder obligations which went with their particular privileges. If power were given- to clear a slum or repair a home, that povjter should apply to the Maori or Pakeha so long as it was done in the public interest. Hon. E. T. Tirikatene suggested that if Maori housing were exempt from the Bill, a situation might arise wherein one side of the street would be occupied by Pakehas and that side might be improved more rapidly than the other side if it were owned by Maoris. It was time that Maori neonle shouldered their due responsibilities. He did not suggest that the Native Department was not doing its job in regard to Maori housing, but he thought that the main responsibility for a native housing scheme should lie with the Minister of Works. Mr. Tirikatene was asked by Opposition members if he favoured placing Maori housing on an equal footing with that of the rest of the community. Mr. Tirikatene said that, personally he was in favour of striking out the clause which excluded Maori housing from the Bill’s provisions. Opposition voices: You would treat them both alike? Mr. Tirikatene: Yes.

’Mr. W. J. Polson (Nat. Stratford) suggested that Messrs Tirikatene and Mason should be given some direction on Maori administration rather than that the Bill should be simply thrust at the House. Mr L. G. Lowry (Govt. Otaki) said local body opinion in his electorate favoured the inclusion of Maori land in the Bill. If Maoris showed a desire for the Native Department to bring about improvements in their housing conditions, then the Native Department should have the privilege of doing it. Hon. R. Semple, replying to the debate, said that no : one had a monopoly of hatred’ for slums. He was prepared to accept any reasonable amendment to this measure when the Bill went into the committee of the House or before the Local Bills Committee. Mr. Semple remarked. It has been said that this time was not opportune for this Bill, because of a scarcity of homes, but he sincerely hoped that the present shortage of manpower materials would not exist in twelve months hence. Then a start could be made to clean up the undesirable sites in our cities and towns. He was glad that the House had accepted the Bill in so friendly a manner. This showed an earnest endeavour on both sides to solve the problem. He deplored the fact that slums existed in such a young country as New Zealand. The bulwarks of the nation were to be found in the home life of its people, and it was the bounden duty of every thinking individual with any power or responsibilities to get rid of slum menace as soon as ■ possible.

Mr. Semple said he did’ 1 not agree that it would be inadvisable to operate the Bill right away or that it should not be until the housing shortage became acute that the Bill should operate. Mr. Semple said it might be possible to prepare a modified clause, which would not imply discrimination against the Maoris. The local bodies, however, would have to tackle the job of getting rid of those houses that were not fit for a bandicoot to live in, those houses where a walking stick could be poked through the walls and those houses which were breeding places for rats. If it were tackled’ with energy and foresight, the housing problem would be non-existent in five years time. “You can’t rear a pansy in a gasometer, nor a healthy child in a slum.” declared Mr. Semple.

The Bill was read the second time and was referred to the Local Bills Committee.