HOUSING IMPROVEMENT BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 7 August 1945, Page 2

HOUSING IMPROVEMENT BILL

SEVERAL ALTERATIONS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, August 4. Alterations have been made to the Housing Improvement Bill since it made its first appearance and was circulated last session, and these are the outcome of suggestions made by local authorities, but most of them are of a minor nature. The Bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives and was read a first time. Provision is made in the measure for the improvement of housing conditions and the reclamation of overcrowded areas. The only major alteration is to a clause dealing with the making of regulations prescribing standards of fitness for houses. A sub-section has been added to this clause excluding Maori houses from the provisions of the first part of the Bill, which relates to the improvement of housing conditions. This,* it is explained, has been done because of the difficulty that would be experienced by local authorities in recouping expenditure, and also because Maori housing is already provided for and is being dealt with by the Native Department. Other alterations have been made to provide local bodies with power to make a 5 per cent, supervision charge in addition to actual expenditure incurred in improving housing conditions. The effect of another amendment is that the occupier of a house has no right to do the work on the owner's default unless he obtains the prior approval of the local authority.