STATE JOINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 6

STATE JOINING

ME SEIPLE'S CLAIMS REPLY MADE TO CRITICISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Thnrsdav ■ "Twenty-eighty thousand dwellings have been erected by t l. State artd private enterprise in r Zealand during the war years, providing ", most comfortable residential accommod ation for some 112,000 people—this U the best record in the world," said th Minister in charge of Housing Con! struction, Mr Semple, tonight, in r * plying to criticism, of the State h ou !] ing policy by the recent conference called by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. That impressive fact * a . apparently overlooked by the confer, ence, added Mr Semple, but he was not surprised at that. ; • "Surely there was no need for anv kind of analysis of existing impedi. ments to the house-building pro * gramme," the Minister continued" These impediments had been as plain as the war itself, which had raised all the obstacles to a vigorous house building programme. It was therefore unfair, or at any rate misleading to include wartime impediments to housebuilding in a report Generally criticising the Government's policy, M r Semnle c aimed. Constructive suggestions V V?® conference to overcome existing difficulties were conspicuous by their absence. The Problem of Materials "The plain facts are that the present housing construction programme absorbs all available materials," 'said Mr Semple. There is no shortage of finance for homes and even if money were made' available on the most liberal term* this would not result in the production of one more house in the total, for the simple reason that there are already bottlenecks for materials which are re tarding the building of those homes already planned and under construction The small builder receives every couragement to operate for the Hous" ing Construction Department. There is room for the small builder and the large contractor." One point made in the report trhich would not bear examination was the statement that the State housing programme and restrictive legislation had resulted in fewer houses being built by the joint efforts of the State and private enterprise than under private enterprise alone before the depression years, continued the Minister. In 1939 and 1940 the total number of bouses for which permits were granted," or in the case of State houses for which' con. tracts were let, was 8093 and 8096 respectively. The only years before the announcement of the State housing scheme during which permits granted exceeded 6000, were 1924, 6245: 1926 6850; 1927, 6179.. Use ol All Resources "Every endeavour is made in the design of State houses and the organisation for their construction to ensure the most economical and efficient use of the resources and manpower available," said Mr Semple. "Apart from the shortages and difficulties of supplv of various materials inevitably associated with war conditions, it is safe to say that all resources of the industry are effectively employed and until the supply position improves no materially greater output of houses caa be achieved, "The contention in the report that there is room for 'a mOre modest type house,' than the department's present standard is simply an oblique wav of saying that the standard of State houses is too good for their occupants and much too good for the Working class of this country. That is not the view of the Labour Government. The Government intends to go on with its firm policy to build comfortable,permanent houses for New Zealand serricemen and service women and for tens of thousands of. workers who cannot afford to risk the vagaries of private enterprise. There will be no retrogression on the Government's part." Mr Semple said the report drew attention to increased house-building costs and shaped its argument to encourage unwary people to infer that expenditure, and subsequent rente, would bare been much less if housing had t all passed through the hands of, private enterprise. Such a contention was merely humbug. There had been no mystery about the increased costs of building materials. These increases wer» common to all countries, with the outstanding difference that they bad been kept within reasonable limits in th# Dominion. *. .

METHODIST SYNOD TASKS IN THE PACIFIC, Rehabilitation work in the Pacific wal referred to in a report on the oversew missionary activity of the Methodist Church presented at yesterday morning's session of the Auckland District Methodist Synod,. The rehabilitation of the Islands, the report stated, was not only a financial problem, but also, ft spiritual one. A sum of £23,000 Had already been given toward financial rt* habitation, and at least £60,000 woura be needed. Reconstruction had already begun by the erection' of two church®, one on Vella Lavella by the natives as a token of their gratitude to the Zealand and American and the other by the officers and men of the Allied forces on Treasury Island aa * memorial to their fallen comrades. Considerable discussion arose on the question of temperance. The synod accepted with regret the delay in appoint- . ing a Royal Commission, and urged that when the commission was set up the Church should be represented and should have the opportunity of putting its finding before it. The full support of the Church was pledged to the New Zealand Alliance in its efforts. SYDNEY FLYING-BOATS The following passengers left for Sydney by a Tasman Empire Airwavi: flying-boat yesterday:—Professor J. Findlay, Drs J. G. Hunter, C. H. Dicksou, Messrs T. W. Wignall, A. BurtonTaylor, S. E. A. Stirling, H. Stewart, W. Johnstone, Mesdames G. E. Wignall, A. Stone, J. M. Burr, A. M. Fiudlay, Miss L. E. Aberley, .Masters D. T, Wignall, P. H. D. Findlay. The following passengers arrived from Sydney by a Taxman Empire Airwava flying-boat yesterday:—Messrs W» Horn, E. F. Lord. D. K. Coleman, O. C. Matthews. A. W. D. Sparks, A. McGowan, J. Robinson. Dr J. Decker, Father L. E. O'Leary, T. P. Mahoney, Mesdames J. E. M. R. Robinson, H. Simson, M. M* Cameron, E. E. Glensor, J. M. Keftuer, Dr Frances Alexander, Miss U *v.' Ashton. PERSONAL ITEMS Mr A. R, Entriean, Director of Forestry, is visiting Rotorua. The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister e! Internal Affairs,, is in Rotorua. Professor J. N. Findlay, professor of philosophy at Otago University, left to Sydney by flying-boat yesterday. Mr E. H. Tyler, postmaster at Rotorua, has been transferred on promotion to Auckland as accountant at the Liner Post Oflice. Mr J. A. C. Allum, Mayor of Auckland, returned yesterday by air from Wellington, where he attended a ing of the National Patriotic , Board, and also gave evidence hetore the Parliamentary Select Commute which is preparing a report on the Jttu Bill. t Dr J. G. Hunter, secretary of the New South Wales branch of the Britißtt Medical Association, and Dr C. H- Die*" son. secretary of the Victorian h ranC ., >. who have been investigating the re 6" . of social security legislation in 4® - land in relation to medical and h° s P' treatment, left on their return, to A tralia. by air. yesterday,.