STATE HOUSING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 14

STATE HOUSING

£3,000,000 TO BE SPENT SCHEME BEING PREPARED STATEMENT BY MR. SAVAGE FAIR RENTS BILL LIKELY [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday At least £3,000,000 is to be spent by the Government on its Dominionwide housing scheme, according to a statement made to-night by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview. The Prime Minister said his Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr. J. A. Lee, was chairman of a committee which was prepjring a full scheme. Good progress was being made, according to reports submitted to the Cabinet by Mr. Leo, and the scheme would be put into effect by the introduction of a bill in the House of Representatives this session. "The number of houses required to relieve the present housing shortage has not been ascertained." Mr. Savage said. "We may be able to make use of the Housing Survey Act passed at the request of the last Government, but in addition the census returns will provide us with much valuable information. The problem is Dominionwide and is to be tackled on that basis, although the most congested areas will naturally be dealt with first. "There is evidence that the housing shortage is most acute in Wellington, because of the configuration of the surrounding country, and in Auckland, because of the growth of population in recent years. There is also urgent need for action with regard to the housing situation of the Maori people." The Government might pay some attention to the question of building blocks of communal flats in the cities, Mr. Savage continued, but its principal aim was to see that every family where possible had its own home and its own piece of land. The question of rents required attention and legislative action might also be necessary in that regard. The present rent restriction legislation hardly went far enough aqd there were too many loopholes. It would probably be necessary to bring down a Fair Rent* Bill to deal with the position in house property. As in matters of trade and marketing, the Government would take complete steps to restrict the activities of speculators.