HOMES FOR THE WORKER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14766, 23 August 1911, Page 8

HOMES FOR THE WORKER.

HOW THE STATE IS HELPING. FLOOD OF APPLICATIONS. FUNDS RUNNING . OUT.. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] , Wellington,. Tueeday. The system of State advances to workers was discussed in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Assistance for the working man in his endeavour to obtain a home of his own, is a function of the Department of Labour, and in explanation of the general policy of the Department tho Hon. J. A. Millar said that as far as possible sections costing between £50 and £60 were being secured as sites «for workers' homes. In many places the land valuations had risen to such an extent that sections could not be purchased at a lower price than £100. It was useless to buy land for which the worker could not pay. The present position was that the Department had only sufficient funds to erect houses on the land already purchased. Demands for the assistance of the Department were being received in dozens from all parts of the country, and to meet all the applications with houses costing between £350 and £400, the Department would need £250,000. He hoped that the erection of additional homes would be commenced within a month.

In reply to Mr. W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) the Minister added that he had bought 30 sections at Ravensbourne (Dunedin) for £500, the cheapest land within the penny section radius. He informed Mr. H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki), that other land not being available in New Plymouth at reasonable prices, he was endeavouring to arrange for the conversion of a portion of a prison reserve for the purposes of the Department.

Several members hastened to urge the claims of their constituents for the Minister's consideration.

Mr. .Russell (Avon) suggested that the Minister should facilitate the development of the system by the aid of, the railways, providing cheap means of communication to districts beyond the congested city areas in which workers might be placed on holdings of two or three acres. Members on both sides of the House joined in a unanimous approval of the system, and several suggestions for the extension and its usefulness were advocated. Mr. C. H. ' Poole (Auckland West) reminded tho House that many workers were prevented by the nature of their employment from living outside the urban areas, and he proposed that the' Department should undertake the provision of tenement houses, which, while economising ground space, would lift the workers out of the slum conditions in which many were forced to dwell.

The Minister replied that the scheme was a big one, and apparently members wished its operation. He recommended caution, reminding the House that the system was originally intended to apply only to the cities where there was congestion, and that the establishment of small farm settlements had not been contemplated. In the course of time the burden of loan moneys would be relieved by repayments, and the system having been established on a solid financial basis proposals of that character might be brought into operation. The House would have another opportunity this session of expressing its opinions regarding the scheme, as he would have to submit proposals for a loan to continue the work. If it desired the carrying out of a comprehensive scheme a loan of at least £500,000 would be necessary. (Mr. Laurenson: Hear, hear.) He had under consideration a very big . scheme involving j. a , considerable,, expenditure. " *,', -.'..'■"' "'-.„•""* Mr. Millar added that it was desirable that more drastic provisions should be embodied in the Municipal Corporations Act to compel municipalities to fulfil their responsibilities •in connection with slum areas, for the creation of which they were responsible since they had permitted the over-building. Some measures must be devised to combat the influence of the interested property-owners. Mr. Fisher: Get your colleague to go on with his Town-planning Bill. Mr. Millar: The Governoi*-in-Council is dead. He must bo brought to life again He added that the Government could not undertake the erection of tenement houses, that being a function of municipal authorities. "We are not talking about this thing," he-concluded. " We are . trying to show that the State, by its monetary assistance, can enable men to obtain homes of their own."-

OPERATIONS UNDER ACT.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR LAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. The annual report on workers' dwellings states that operations under the Act are to be limited to places where there are at least six applicants, »as it is impracticable to erect dwellings in smaller groups. Negotiations are proceeding for the purchase or setting apart of suitable land in Wanganui, Tunaru, Invercargill, and various other towns. Some delay in dealing with applications pending completion of negotiations for land is anticipated. Arrangements have been made with the Government Life Insurance Department, whereby under a special scale any purchaser may insure his life for as nearly as practicable the amount that may be owing on his dwelling at the time of his death, should such occur. Thus, by the payment of 2s 9d per week a purchaser of a dwelling costing £560, if he is 30 years of age would ensure the payment of the balance owing on his dwelling at any time _ that his death might occur. ' The amount of the insurance effected may be actually greater than tho amount owing from time to time, it being the nearest practical sum. In the case of death the balance of the insurance money after paying the residue on the building is paid to the credit of the insured's estate. The total number of houses erected so far is only 126.