PEOPLE'S HOMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 15

PEOPLE'S HOMES

RIGHT OF POSSESSION OPPOSITION'S ADVOCACY STATE SCHEME UNDER FIRE SHORTAGE NOT OVERCOME [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLING TON, Tuesday Criticism of the Government's housing policy on the grounds that it denied the individual the right to possess a home of his own was voiced by Mr. K. J. Hol.voake (Opposition—Motueka) during the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. If the Opposition was returned to power, ho said, it would not necessarily abolish the Housing Construction Department, but it would alter the general policy in order to give people the right to own rather than rent their homes. Even with the Government's muchvaunted scheme, said Mr. Holvoake, the housing shortage had not been overcome and workers were finding itjust, as difficult as ever to find homes. One of the main reasons why insufficient houses were being built to-day was the 'lO-hour week. It might be practicable in some industries, but in general less work meant less production. Had the Government's policy not put housing costs where they wore today far more houses would have been built by private enterprise than were being built under the Government'? scheme. Costs Doubled "The whole trend of the policy is socialistic." Mr. Holyoake continued. "People will not have the right to own their homes. Everything is to be owned by the State, and yet the Government attempts to deny that it is a socialistic Government."

The crux of the position, said Mr. Holyoake, was that housing construction costs were practically double what the Minister of Finance said they would be in 1936. The rents were also twice the original estimate, and when transport costs were taken into consideration the houses were obviously out of reach for the average working man. In some respects the Housing Department was doing good work, but if it had not been for the Government's policy of high costs the department would not have been necessary. Reply by Minister The Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, replying to Mr. Holyoake, said that instead of building houses the previous Government sent the carpenters into unemployment camps. Timber mills closed down, men were thrown out of work and all the time the people were crying out for homes. The present Government had stimulated building to such an extent that in some of the smaller towns they had almost overtaken requirements. The housing problem in Wellington was tragic, said the Minister. No sooner was a house finished than it was rushed. Overseas visitors had expressed high praise for the type of house the Government was building. "We are establishing a record that is the envy of the world," added Mr. Webb. MINE RESCUE STATIONS PROVISION FOR EMERGENCY EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES [nV TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Arrangements l'oi the. manning of rescue stations to be erected in the coalmining areas were explained by the Minister of Minos, the Hon. 1. C. Webb, during consideration of the estimates'of the Mines Department in the House of Representatives to-day. These stations, he said, would provide assistance toward the rescue of miners whose lives might be endangered through explosions or fires in mines. Mr. Webb said a contract had been let for the construction of a station at Dobson, the most central position in that particular mining area, where gaseous conditions prevailed. This building was now nearly completed. Iho equipment would include a special motor truck, so that in case of trouble it could be rushed to the mine with safety apparatus. The station would be completely equipped as a life-saving station, and' it was to train young men in rescue work. Eventual!} similar stations would be established elsewhere.