STATE HOUSING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 8

STATE HOUSING

A CRITIC CHALLENGED ROYAL COMMISSION OFFERED A BY-ELECTION BRUSH (Per United Press Association) PALMERSTON N., Nov.'7. The Minister of Housing. Mr H. T. Armstrong, in a statement replying to criticism by Mr C. G. Harker. the National candidate ior Waipawa. concerning State housing, said that Mr Harker was reported in the Hawkes Bav Tribune and the Daily Mail as having stated that if a Royal Commission were set up to inquire into Xh» letting of housing contracts, his hearers would be horrified at the result "That statement was brought to nw notice." the Minister said. "I lmmoMiatelv telegraphed Mr Harker, askme if he had been correctly reported, and if so a Royal Commission would be se. up immediately, consisting of a magistrate or iudge. to which Mr Harker. or anyone else, would have the opportunity of producing evidence in suppor of such a statement. Mr Harker. in his reply, infers that he has been in correctly reported. He now says hp was referring to the letting of State houses to tenants in the statement thai he was reported to have made. It is perfectly clear that, although he said all the things he now claims to have said, he definitely pinned his demand for a Royal Commission upon the letting of housing contracts. It seems to me a most *»markable thing—if he was incorrectly reported by two different papers, evidently by t\yo different reporters, and if; as he says the reports were wrong—that, notwithstanding the seriousness of a statement which imputed corruption on the part of the department, he allowed this statement to go uncorrected until he received my telegram telling him about it and offering him the Royal Commission which he asked for. " Now he wants a Royal Commission simply on the letting of State houses. He says now that the National Partv has in its possession numerous letters alleging that applicants for State houses have been unfairly treated. Everv such case that has been reported to me by members of the National Partv. or any other party, has been thoroughly investigated, and a clear statement of the facts concerning the case been given to them. If. as he states, the National Party has all these letters, at least it should have given me the opportunity of giving an explanation. If it does so. and the evidence produced by them warrants inquiry by a parliamentary committee, or is of sufficient importance to warrant a Royal Commission, I will give Mr Harker and his party every opportunity."