HOME FOR EVERY MAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 123, 24 April 1936, Page 9

HOME FOR EVERY MAN.

. GOVERNMENT’S PLAN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. April 23. Mr M. J. Savage (Premier) intimated to-day that the restoration of the wages level applies to all workers, whether under the jurisdiction of the Court or not. The position as in 1931 will be restored by legislation. Mr Savage announces that the Government are introducing a Bill this session providing for a home for every man. Asked whether the Bill would provide for a system of communal flats, he said they might come into the scheme. ’ “AVe want the people not only to have a house but a piece of land as well. It is the Government’s intention to c.ose up the many loophples in the present rent restriction legislation by means of a Fair Rents Bill, the speculator is not froing to be allowed to make a Roman holiday out of the Government’s housing programme. lne speculator might put one across us once, but we will put two across him in return.” COSTLY SCHEME. THREE MILLIONS MENTIONED. AVELLINGTON, April 24. At least £3,000,000 is to be spent by the Government in the launching ol its Dominion-wide housing scheme, according to a statement made last night by the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. q* 7 The Prime Minister said his Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr J. A. Lee, was • chairman ol a committee which was preparing a full scheme. Good progress was being made, according to reports submitted to Cabinet by Mr Lee, and the scheme would be put into effect by the introduction of a Bill in the House of Representatives this session. . , “The number of houses required to relieve the present housing shortage has not been ascertained, Air Ravage said “AVe may be able to make use of the Housing Survey Act, passed at the request of the last Governmen , but in addition, the census returns will provide us with much valuable information. The problem is Dominionwide and is to be tackled on that basis, although the most congested areas will naturally be dealt with “There is evidence that the housing shortage is most acute in Wellington, because of the configuration of the surrounding country, and in Auckland because of the growth, of population in recent years. There is also argent need for action with regard to the housing situation of Maori people.”