RURAL HOUSING ACT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 9

RURAL HOUSING ACT

SATISFACTION WITH SCHEME

HOROWHENUA COUNCIL’S VIEW. General satisfation with the scheme was expressed at,the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council yesterday when a discussion took place on the Rural Housing Act, 1939. The finance committee of the council had been instructed to go into the Act and present a report on it, which was done at the, last meeting of the council. The chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk)' said that the Kairanga and Manawatn County Councils had adopted the scheme, which he thought was an excellent one. “All our .young men, except , those with a permanent ailment, are going to be called upon for military service very shortly,” said Cr. Monk, “and the married men are going to be left at home to look after and keep up-production. Therefore it will be necessary to build houses to accommodate these men and their families, and by this means the task will be Very much easier. The scheme is to the advantage of not only the farm worker, but also the employer. To put the Act into effect here will involve the office stag in extra work. The State Advances ' Corporation will have the final say as to whether a person gets the money, and it will not want to see any of the local bodies get into difficulties in trying to administer the Act. It has a good idea as to the financial position of the person who applies for the money. I am not going to state again that I think it is the job of the Government to administer the Act, therefore we as a council must administer it.” Cr A. M. Colcjiihoun: I have come to the conclusion that the ratepayers are getting,the money at a very cheap rate of interest, and it is our duty to assist them to get, it in every way we can. ' , , Cr L. H; Best supported the scheme for one reason—even if the council do not approve of it—that was because the ratepayers were getting money at a verv cheap rate. “I am of the opinion that the time is not opportune for such a scheme, because of the deplorable state m which the world is at the present time,” said Cr C. P. Jensen. “The scheme should be shelved temporarily. Cr Aitcliison: I support the Act because the farmers have been calling out for cheap money for a number of years with which to make improvements to their dwellings, but none was forthcoming until the inauguration of this scheme. This council should not prevent the farmers from obtaining it now. The chairman: Although the times are so bad can,we afiord to throw down the job now? (Members No.) We in New Zealand must carry on whatever the-odds.

Cr Colc|ulioun: It is a service to our ratepayers. Cr E. J. Ryder: If we turn it. down it is a sign that we have no faith in the Government’s administration. The chairman then moved “that the special report of the finance committee in regard to the Rural Housing Act, 1939, bo adopted, and that the clerk be authorised to proceed with any necessary action in connection therewith.” The motion was passed, Cr Jensen being the only dissentient.