THE DEBATE ON HOUSING

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 4

THE DEBATE ON HOUSING

yiiE problem of housing the people is so urgent that the debate on the subject in the House of Representatives was of frontrank importance. It should, therefore, have been free from ambiguity. The people want to know what the Government intends to do. Mr. Polson said they had been told by Mr. Semple that,the £6,000,000 provided in the Estimates was for 4000 houses. Yet the Budget speech of Mr. Nash said 12,000.” Whereupon Mr. McCombs interjected with; “The 12,000 referred to was never stated as State houses, and you know it.” Late;- in the debate Mr. Nash said that it was plain from the Budget that the Government did not contemplate 12,000 houses in the year. At 61500 each £6,000,000 would provide for 400(1 houses. The foregoing is clear enough, the calculations' of Mr. Nash are not to be denied. Yet what is the following statement meant to convey to the public, a pronouncement appearing at the foot o. page 31 of his Budget statement: — “ “THE GOVERNMENT’S HOUSING PROGRAMME ENVISAGES the CONSTRUCTION OF 12.000 HOUSES PER AN NUM DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. Timber milling will he stimulated and strict control maintained over supplies in order to ensure that priority is given to the most urgent requirements. Morp houses will come before bigger houses.” On the admissions of the Government spokesmen it was never intended to build 12,000 houses annually. Why was this statement included in the Budget?