RURAL HOUSING

Southland Times, Issue 25483, 2 October 1944, Page 3

RURAL HOUSING

Government Scheme Commended

“In my judgment the rural housing scheme as at present on the Statute Book and operated by the County Councils is not a bad scheme. Indeed, if it were taken up enthusiastically, and I believe it should be, it would be about as effective as any scheme I have heard proposed or seen in print,” states the Hon. Adam Hamilton in a letter to the Invercargill District Council of Primary Production in which he discusses the question of rural housing.

Mr Hamilton also states: “Naturally I am very interested in this subject, and will be pleased to do anything I can to bring into being an effective housing accommodation scheme for farm workers. The last time I was speaking. to Mr H. C. Gimblett, clerk of the Southland County Council, I think he told me that under the existing rural housing scheme the Southland council had built some 27 houses. This was when the scheme came into being first when there was a subsidy granted by the Government. Of late, however, I think the county has rather shut down on the scheme.

“As far as I can see at present I think the Government has a rural housing scheme under consideration which will be put into operation in the near future. I am not quite sure yet of the details of this proposal, but shall give it my attention with a good deal of interest. I am of the opinion that the best policy still for New Zealand is a large rural population aiming at each settler owning his own section.”