Houses for Returned Soldiers

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 49, 27 February 1943, Page 4

Houses for Returned Soldiers

The Master’ Builders’ Conference in Palmerston North yesterday had before it the following remit:—“That, as one raeasuro towards the rehabilitation of returned servicemen, representations be made to the Government with the object of provision being made for loans at a low rate of interest, so as to encourage and assist retkrned men to build their own homes.” It was explained by Dunedin delegates that the remit had been framed with the idea of meeting the demand that will come from returned soldiers who will want to settle down when they come home and to own homes of their own. Dunedin’s idea was to encourage the Government to make cheap money available to soldiers. Mr. Booth, who spoke for the rehiit, added that the federation should remember that the present Government was out to own everything. Mr. D. A. Swan (Dunedin), who seconded the motion, quoted the scheme at present operating in Dunedin where the City Council was helping citizens to build their own houses. One speaker quoted official statistics showing that 31,769 houses had been built during the 1924-28 period, compared with 30,936 during the 1936-40 period. His contention was that private enterprise "had done just as well as the Government in providing houses. One speaker, referring to the houses built during the 1936-40 period, claimed that private enterprise had had as much to do with the building of the houses as had the Government. He added: “The Government might have provided the finance but we, hampered and humbugged by Government inspectors, built the houses.” The remit was carried.