POLITICAL PRESSURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 3

POLITICAL PRESSURE

ALLOCATION OF STATE HOUSES QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. Many people who did not raise a finger to help the war effort were living in State houses while ex-service-men were in a tragic, plight, stated Mr A/ S. Sutherland (Oppn., Hauraki) during the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-day. “ I am asking if there was political influence in the allocation of a State house,” Mr Sutherland said. He had always understood that the houses were meant for people on lower incomes. Now many members of Parliament and ex-members had State houses. Mr A. C. Baxter (Govt., Raglan): 1 have. There was no political influence. Mr Sutherland replied that the member for Raglan was an ex-serviceman and entitled to a house. He had inquired. however, about the allocation of a State house to a tenant through the ex-member for New Plymouth, Mr Frost, and was told in a letter from Mr Thorn, when the latter’ was Parliamentary Under-Secretary, that the only prospect of employment for Mr Frost after his misfortune in the election seemed to be in Auckland. He could not be given Government employment within 12 months of the election, and he had let his house in Auckland. In the special circumstances, a State house was allocated to his tenant so that Mr Frost could get back into his own house. Members of Parliament should not be able to get State houses on their salaries, and would not without political pressure, said Mr Sutherland. He was satisfied that the State Advances Corporation did a good job when left alone.