STATE HOUSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 6

STATE HOUSES

Allocation By Committees MINISTER’S EXPLANATION PA WELLINGTON, Mar. 22. “Courts are entitled to every assistance in the administration of justice, and as far as the State Advances Corporation is concerned, that will be done.” This statement was made by the Minister in Charge of the State Advances Corporation, Mr Marshall, when asked today to comment on the remarks of Mr S. S. Preston, S.M. In Wanganui, the magistrate had referred to the State departments concerned with housing as sheltering “ behind a cloak of privilege ” to which they were not entitled. “ Where a magistrate is considerng whether an eviction order ought to be made, and the tenant is an applicant for a State house, it would be relevant to inquire whether the tenant is likely to l?e allocated a State house, and if so, when that allocation will be made,” said Mr Marshall. “That information will be readily given whenever the court requires it. Courts, however, have no jurisdiction to determine who should< or should not have, a State house. That is generally the responsibility of independent committees of citizens who, with full knowledge of the facts in each case, tried to determine competing claims, of thousands of unsatisfied applicants. “Justification for the citizens’ committees is their independence. Neither Minister nor magistrate cdn interfere with the decision of the Allocation Committee if such committees are to remain independent,” said Mr Marshall.