WORKERS’ HOMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18530, 17 October 1934, Page 10

WORKERS’ HOMES

STATE. AS MORTGAGEE APPEALS FOR RELIEF (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. In the course of the debate on the estimates in the House of Representative,s Mr. W. E. Parry (Lab., Auek. CV) referring to the State advances account,, asked what the policy of the Government was to be in regard to the persons who had lost their homes because of the slump, and through no fault of their own.

He asked if the department intended to assist those people. He considered that such people should be given an opportunity of goiug back to their homes, and have their arrears wiped' off. He also asked if the depart men I was doing anything to help workers who were remaining in their homes to keep their houses painted and in repair. Mr. ,T. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) asked if the department would consider adopting it policy of exchanging houses. He said that sometimes it person was transferred from one town to another. A person often had to lose all lie put into a house when an Exchange might reasonably be arranged. . The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, replying, said it would not be possible for the department to wipe off arrears, Only

after going to court could an adjustment bo made. About Hi,00,0 persons were unable to pay their dues to the department and some had lost their homes. About £IIO,OOO it year 'had been spent in the way of painting and repairs. Loans were available lor that purpose. The general outlook ol the department was that property must be conserved. Regarding an exchange of properties, the Department was open to an agreement. •The vote was passed.