THE HOUSING BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 316, 31 January 1922, Page 3

THE HOUSING BILL.

THIKD READING PASSED. (Per Pr<\ss Association.) WELLINGTON, -Jan. 30. In the House cof Representatives today the Housing 15111 was taken in committee. Mr P. Fraser moved to strike out sub-section 2 of clause 7, repealing section 56 of the principal Act and Section 22 of the Amending Act, 1920. IHe asked that this legislation be sus- ! ponded until next session, by which | time a census of empty houses could be j made, and the House would then have the fullest information on which to act. j At present 11. was asked to repeal the j existing law, while more or less in the ; dark as to the actual position. Mr I Eraser contended that the only solution j of the housing problem, in the absence | of sufficient houses, was to give Magisj ! rates the power to say whether an i ivcnpiei would suffer undue hardship ii I ( (impelled to vacate a house. That had I keen a groat safeguard in the past, and he asked the Minister not to take thai power away until il was definitely aseori ained that there were sufficient houses lor all. This view was supported by Sir John I,uke and Messrs Witch. Parry, Bartram and Holland. The discussion was continued by Messrs Statham, Lysnar and Mitchell. Mr I'Ynser's ainendmont was deCoated by !30 volt's to 22. The Minister said he was considering having a clause inserted in the Bill when it reached the Legislative Council, providing a penalty for anyone who obtains a house under clause 7 and lets the same within six months. On the Minister's .motion paragraph (g) of subsection 1 (" any other ground that may be deemed sufficient l»y the Magistrate making the order" on an ii indication fOr recovery of a dwelling, house) was si ruck out. Ur Vouug moved a new clause io| enable IClectrie Power Boards to acquire, j.,,,,1 am | erect dwellings lor their employees. This was lost on the voices. Mr "Pan-v moved a new clause making ii unlawful for any person owning a vacant dwelling house to refuse to lei ; il to anv man or woman p.l good character who' has a child or children. The Minister said the matter was one of great difficulty, and though all would agree with the intentions ot the clause, he feared it would have httlo effect He would look into the mailer and see if it was possible to insert a clause on these lines when the BUI reaches the .Legislative Council. Mr Parrv accepted this assurance, and the amendment was allowed to Cl Mr Fraser suggested an amendment designed to cheek the practice of putting inferior furniture into empty houses, and requiring tenants to purchase the same.-Tlns was rejected on the voices. , . , The Bill was, reported, read a thud time, and passed.