HOUSING PROJECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24912, 11 May 1942, Page 4

HOUSING PROJECT

PROVISION FOR RETURNED MEN (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, May 9. "There will be no hesitation on the part of Parliament m providing the necessary funds for the rehabilitation of men returning from the war," said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, when replying to the financial debate in the House of Representatives today. He added that, when the present colossal programme of defence works eased off, provision, it would be agreed, must be made for housing as part of the rehabilitation scheme. The Prime Minister said the project at present in hand was that men now engaged on the defence works programme should later be employed in clearing and preparing land, building roads and bridges, and other work necessary for housing in selected localities At the conclusion of the defence works programme the men engaged on it would not be allowed to go into the ranks of the unemployed, for it would be a great waste of human effort in the middle of the war. As good as the housing scheme had been, the number already built was as nothing compared with the number required if the returned men and their families and others requiring homes were to be properly housed, the Prime Minister added. The demand could never be overtaken if old standards were adhered to. Houses had to. be produced on a much bigger scale without lowering the standard.