EMPHASIS ON HOUSING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27404, 1 June 1950, Page 7

EMPHASIS ON HOUSING

Opposition Parties’ Policy v, NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTION NZPA-r-Copyright SYDNEY, May 31. In his policy speech, Mr V. H. Treatt, leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, said that the present State Government’s housing policy had been a failure, as the gap between the annual demand for houses ; and the number constructed a year was widening instead of lessening. New South Wales must have twice as many houses a year as were now being built. He outlined the policy of the Opposition parties as follows: 1. To expand local building industry by the direction of migrants into building materials and basic industries, by resolutely attacking bottlenecks, and by abolishing the Ministry of Building Materials. ' 2. To import prefabricated buildings and materials and to consider holding prices down by a subsidy. 3. To adopt improved methods and techniques. 4. To offer financial backing 'to manufacturers incurring capital expenditure on modern development plant. 5. To explore the possibility of providing cheaper loans for - home builders. 6. To seek the co-operation of unions in obtaining greater efficiency. The Opposition parties also promised a new Ministry of State Development charged with attracting overseas capital and stimulating industry, the encouragement of profitsharing, the introduction of secret union ballots, no interference with the 40-hour week, improvements in the education system, transport and power, and the abolition of price control‘-as soon as practicable.