MORE THAN HALF A MILLION FOR STATE ADVANCES, IS HINT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6665, 19 July 1928, Page 6

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION FOR STATE ADVANCES, IS HINT

MINISTER COMMENTS ON FIGURE IN BUDGEI ALL NEW MONEY, TOO Times Special. Prom Our Own Parliamentary Reporter, WELLINGTON, Last Night, Prom a hint repeated by the Minister of finance, Hon. W. Downla Stewart, in the House to-day interest will attach to the exact provision made in this year’s Budget for the State Advances. The Min Ister Indicated that the amount would be more than £500,000. During the last six years, said th« Minister, £26,002,000 had. been advance by the Government, but with the tre-, mehdous demands being made upon the Department in order to' carry out t&'o Puolic Work’s programmes, it. was a very difficult matter to find money toe the State Advances. In the four centres huge railway workshops were being constructed, and ho hoped that when those works were completed, the position would bo relieved to a certain extent. . ■ More than half a million would be put into the State Advances Department. V v;. : i 135 A Member: Not new money? 1 : ; The Minister: Yes, more than halfa million of new money. When the JBuctgot comes down the actual figure will bo disclosed. I still maintain, however, that the city councils should con tribute toward tho solution of thoir own housing problems. Ido not sec why the State Advances should bo called upon to r do everything. v ; . Mr. E. M.‘Kcen (Wellington South): It depends on tho members on the council. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon): You are not going to say that the Christchurch City Council has not done anything are you? . v . .• /' The Minister: I give the Christchurch City Council credit for what it-has done. There would be a greater possibility of further assistance being afforded 'the State Advances, concluded the Minister, when the Public Work’s programme had been completed.