SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18461, 26 July 1923, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

V-* • * : '* *' T ' '•' v, V > /'V' iv ', * > .'« l POSITION IN THE CITIES. AVAILABILITY OF SITES. PRIME minister's review; ; IBS TEtEaaAPH.—aPECXAX, - RBPOttTER/J ' WELLINGTON/ Wednesday, ;Some interesting remarks on the housing 1 question were made by the Prime Min-| ister during the Committee discussion on the Rent Restriction Continuance Bill in the !• House of Representatives this oven* ing.:' t - „ Replying to a suggestion by Mr. Wilford that a qualified architect and builder should be appointed to the State Advances Bjiard for the purpose of giving expert advice in _ regard to housing loans, Mr. Mttssey said that arrangements were being made that when an expert opinion was required the Public Works Department and its officers would work in with the board and would be' available whenever need arose. - .

Mr Massey agreed that houses were scarcer in Wellington than anywhere else, but he did not know the reason— it was a shortage of -sites, he could not say. In other centres the house shortage was not jso severe as had 1 been reported. The Government had built a number,of houses in Christchurch, arid some of them were empty at present. Mr, r. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) v Do you know why, sir? . Mr. Massey. No, I don't. Mr . Howard: You built them in a' swamp. Mr. Massey: I hope jt is not so bad as that. I have known low-lying .ground which has become perfectly dry, as drainage systems have been extended. ■■■["■A-.- -• The Prime Minister added that, so far as Dunedin was concerned, there were good building sites available at reasonable prices. • A Labour Member: But they're over the hills and far away. Mr. Massey : Most of the peonle who want houses in Wellington would" like to have them within five minutes' walk of Lambtori Quay. In Auckland they want them within five minutes' walk of Quieen Street. - ;- r , > r : , . The Prime' Minister mentioned that within the last few months he had visited some of the /Auckland suburbs and had found that private individuals were doing & great deal to provide their fellowcitizens with houses. Whole streets of houses stood where he remembered having seen paddocks before. That sort of thing should .bo encouraged. He was not sure that the extension of tho rent restrictions, as proposed in the present Bill, would encourage it. However, he believed that the restrictions should be continued until they could be terminated without inflicting any serious hardship upon any section of the people. Reverting to tho alleged shortage of houses. in other parts of the Dominion, Mr. Massey said that he had just received a letter from someone not personally known to him in Wanganui, asking him why there were 37 houses vacant at Castlecliff. Ho did not know l the reason, but no criticism of the Government seemed intended. The country would be kept fairly busy for the next year or 18 months building houses. He did not wish to go over what he had' said about the State Advances Bill, but. he would add that the Government was making financial provision, and the necessary legislation would bo introduced before the end of the session.

RESTRICTION OP BENT. EXTENSION OF PROVISIONS. COMMITTEE STAGE PASSED. [by TEtEaiiArn.— REPORTER.} ; WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Rent Restriction Continuance Bill, • which is intended to extend until July 31, 1924, the legislation protecting tenants, passed its Committee stage in-the House -of Representatives this evening without amendment.' , The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Wilford, intimated that he would move an amendment to provide that, when a reduced rent had been accepted over & period in full settlement, the difference might not be claimed subsequently. The Minister for' Labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, replying to some of th© remarks made by members, said tho aim should be to remove all rent restrictions as soon a s it could , conveniently be don©. It was believed the new State Advances scheme would cause so many new houses to bo built that, in a year's time, there would be no . need •to continue the restrictions any longer. The, Minister for Justice, the Hon. C J. Parr, referring to Mr. Wilford's proposed amendment, said that it was really unnecessary, the contingency being already provided for. ' • 1 ' ' Mr. Wilford replied that he had the opinion of a leading Auckland barrister and a Wellington Kijig'jj Counsel that the amendment was necessary. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) suggested to the Minister for Labour that the date of expiry of the extension period bo struck out so as to give an ; indefinite extension. The Minister :T will give my word that if necessary, th© period will be further extended. • Mr. Fraser said that, in view of th© promise, he would withdraw ■ his sugges- . Mr. Wilford's amondment was lost ion the voices, but the Minister undertook to have further inquiries mad© about the question,, ; V Tlie Bill was reported without amendment. ■,

THE SECOND EXPRESS. A QUESTION OF TRAFFIC. REVISING THE TIMETABLE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] ii! y WELLINGTON, Wednesday A reply to a question asked by Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton) was made by the Minister for Railways, the Hon. j. G. Contes, in the House of Representatives to-day. He said arrangements had already been made for 'an officer of the department to visit the Auckland district, and, in conjunction with tho district traffic manager, to go into the f various questions concerning the time-table with the bodies interested. Consideration would be given .to the reinstatement of the second North Island Main Trunk express when the traffic was sufficient to'iustifv the running of the train. • J

OATH - OF ALLEGIANCE.; - EXTENSION OF EXEMPTION. BRITISH BY NATURALISATION. [nv telegraph.— special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The proposed abolition of the law requiring people ; to take the oath of allegiance before entering New Zealand is to apply to all British subjects. The Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill originally proposed that only British sub.' jects by birth should bo released from the obligation of taking the oath. However, in the House of Representatives this evening, the Minister for Customs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart; agreed to accept an amendment that the provision should apply also to British subjects Iby naturalisation. ._ * In connection with the declaration that has to be made by all arrivals from overseas, the Minister said he would inquire into the matter of simplifying the declaration form. . He would . suggest to! the department that pursers of overseas ships should fill in the particulars dur-1 ing the voyage, instead of it having to be done at, the last minute. He thought that that would remove ;a . lot of dissatis- '-•'- r . . *