HOUSING POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23333, 27 October 1937, Page 10

HOUSING POLICY

MINISTER ANSWERS CRITICISM CATERING FOR COTTAGE BUILDERS UNDER-SECRETARY'S WORK PRAISED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. An announcement that the procedure of the State Advances Corporation was being reorganised so that cottage builders could obtain finance was made by the Minister of Finance (Mr W Nash) during his reply to the financial debate in the House of Representatives tonight Mr Nash said an endeavour was being made to devise a scheme whereby this could be done without creating a boom in the land values of sections that would be required for the purpose. Replying to criticism of the Government's housing Mr Nash said he wished to give every credit to the Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary in Charge of Housing (Mr J A Lee) for the work he was doing. The housing figures were changing from day to day. and even those given in' the Budget were now out of date. Land for houses had now been bought in 53 towns, and arrangements had been made to purchase land In 22 other towns. A total of 1268 contracts had been let in .31 towns, and 43 other contracts were under way. Tenders had been called for 1811 houses in 46 towns. There were 2000 men employed on the construction of houses, and the provision of the necessary materials gave work to 2000 more. The progress made by the Ministry of Housing was greater than that made by any such department in similar circumstances anywhere Nothing was more tragic than the oosition of the man with an income of between £4 and £5 a week who was unable to find a home for his wife and family. The Government was doing everything possible in the way of allocating houses to those people in tne most necessitous circumstances.

/ "Although the State Advances Corporation has done splendid work, the whole procedure is being reorganised so that cottage builders will be able to get finance," said Mr Nash. He said that if the Government were to announce that it intended to find all the money required there would be a boom in the value of the sections, and the land owner would reap the benefit. The Government was desirous of finding a way out of that difficulty.