WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5729, 26 October 1905, Page 5

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. READ A THIRD TIAIE. Tho Workers’ Dwellings Bill was put through committee in tho Legislative Council last evening and passed. The only amendments made wore those suggested by tho Select Committee to which tho bill was submitted. An attempt was made to find tho true feeling of the Council on tho question of tho freehold and leasehold, but it failed because some of those who would have voted against tho freehold proposals under ordinary conditions voted iu favour of them to facilitate the passage of tho bill. At clause 0 (application fer workers’ dwelling) tho Hon Air George moved to strike out the word freehold. He did so with a desire to obtain tho opinion of the Council as to whether applicants should bo able to purchase the freehold of a dwelling. The Hon Air Rigg, while opposing the freehold being open to sale, felt that to strike out the ability to purchase would jeopardise the chances of the bill passing this session. The Hon Air Pitt agreed with the contention that if the freehold clauses wore struck out the bill would bo lost this session. The Hon Air Bolt said the Council should express ito opinion. If the clauses wore struck out tho result would bo a conference between the two Chambers, when some arrangement might he come to that would satisfy both Houses. The amendment was lost on tho voices. Clause 8 (rent fixed at 5 per cent, on the capital value, including 1 par cent, for depreciation, in addition to insuring the dwelling from fao) was amended by striking out the reference to deterioration. Tho deletion docs not, however, affect the rent, and there was added a provision that tho tenant must also pay the estimated amount of rates under tho 1801 Rating Act. The Hon Air Jones moved to strike from tho bill tho mode of acquiring a dwelling by an insurance on his life.

( Tho Hon Mr Jenkinson argued that the object of life insurance should bo to make some provision for his wife and family after his death, and it was wrong to offer inducements to a worker to insure his life for the purchase of a dwelling. Tho Hon Mr Pitt pointed out that tho provision had been considered carefully in the Lower House, and no objection was raised. < The Hon Mr Jenkinson replied that that argument carried no weight, since the Lower House had omitted to make provision in the mode for the payment of rent. The amendment was lost by 17 votes to 5. The Hon Mr Jones then called for a division on tho question of whether clause 10 (inodes of acquiring tho freehold) should stand in tho bill. In his opinion the freehold previsions were a “snare and a delusion.” The clause was retained by 15 votes to- 5. Clause 11 (mode of acquiring the freehold by endowment assurance) was amended by the insertion of a provision that the rent shall be 5 per cent. (There was no rent provided in tho bill as it came from tho House.) A new clause was added to provide that, with the consent of the Land Board, a lessee may at any time surrender his lease upon terms mutually agreed upon between them. Power was given the Minister to erect buildings , for occupancy on a weekly tenancy at a rent not exceeding 5 per cent., the tenant to pay rates under the 1894 act. Every weekly tenant must bo a worker and landless. Another new clause laid down that, notwithstanding anything in the Rating Act, 1894, the Land Board, in the case of weekly tenancies, under section 21 hereof, shall bo liable for payment to tho local authority of rates in tho same manner as it such Board or Minister were an occupier within tho meaning of the Rating Act, 1894, provided that the Board and Minister respectively shall not be liable for any greater amount than has been received as rate from each tenant.

The bill was reported - as amended, and read a third time on tho voices.