IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSING

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 3

IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSING

PROVISIONS OF NEW BILL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 13. Two Bills were introduced in the House of Representatives this afternoon, but only one will be put through. The other will be circulated among local bodies during the recess. They were the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations Bill and the Housing Improvement Bill. The former measure approves of the constitution of the food and agriculture organization recommended by the conference of representatives of the United Nations held at Hot Springs, in the United States. Provision is also made for the payment from the War Expenses Account of a sum not exceeding £25,000 in any financial year as New Zealand’s contribution in accordance with the articles of the constitution. SLUM CLEARANCE The Housing Improvement Bill, which has been referred to in the past as the “Slum Clearance Bill,” is divided into three parts, the first relating to the improvement of housing generally, the second to slum clearance and the third consisting mainly of machinery clauses. Regulations will be made prescribing minimum standards of fitness on the joint recommendation of the Minister of Works and Health and local authorities are authorized to require owners to bring their houses up to the standard prescribed, which may mean repair, partial demolition or complete demolition. The owner will have the right to appeal to a magistrate, . but if the owner neglects to comply with the requirements the local authority may do the work and charge the owner. If a local authority fails to take action to require housing improvements, the Minister of Works may exercise the powers of the local authority and charge the money expended against the local authority. The part of the Bill dealing with slum clearance provides for the reclamation of defined areas which have become decadent or overcrowded. A

local authority may petition the Gover-nor-General to declare an area a reclamation area and when it is declared full powers are given to the local authority to enable it to cany out its plans for improvements, but if the local authority does not act there is no provision for the Crown to step in. Provision is made for compensation in the case of land and buildings acquired for slum clearance. Both Bills were read the first time.