Legislation to Compel Letting of Empty Houses Will be Introduced

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 July 1947, Page 5

Legislation to Compel Letting of Empty Houses Will be Introduced

Government Departments to Lead the Way, Says Mr. Fraser

(Press Association) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., July 16 Legislation dealing with the compulsory letting of empty dwellings would be introduced during the present session, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in the House of Representatives today. Mr. Fraser said he thought it not right that any house should be needlessly empty during the present housing shortage. Mr. Fraser added that Govern-

ment departments had a duty to set an example to private owners in seeing- that houses were not left unoccupied for lengthy periods.

Mr T. P. Shand (Opp., Marlborough) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the number of unoccupied houses and other buildings in the hands of Government departments, he would have prepared a list of all such buildings showing the date of tho last occupation and the steps being taken to ensure its reoccupation as soon as possible. Mr. Shand asked that such list be kept up to date and tabled In the House from time to time. In a rote to his question Mr. Shand said ttat a house in Blenheim which had been part of flax factory buildings had been unoccupied for months. A hostel ft Seddon which had also been part of b flax factory, had been unoccupied for two years. A house at Ka’koura which belonged to the Post and Telegraph Department, had recently been let after being empbe for six months. A number of Public Works houses in and around Kaikourc hud been unoccupied for months.

Mr. Fraser said the cases mentioned by the member for Marlborough would be inquired into. For twelve months now departments had had an instruction to notify any dwellings that would be becoming vacant, and also to give notice immediately they became vacant. A report was made every week. NO EXCUSE. Mr. Fraser said there was no excuse for any single dwelling in the country being vacant when housing needs were so great. He said the House would have an opportunity of considering the advisability of compelling private owners to let their empty houses. A law to that effect was in operation in Tasmania and Victoria, ut.d was working very well. The Ret .’.rned Services Association had asked for it in New Zealand, and legislation in that direction would be introduced curing the present session. The House cot id then decide how such a measure should apply. Mr, Bowden (Opp., Karori): It depends on the conditions. Mr Fraser That can be discussed by the House. STANDING COMMITTEES. The House appointed standing comm ttees with a membership in the proportion cf live Government members to four Opposition, compared with six Government to four Opposition last session. BABY CLOTHES Mr. Nordmeyer, answering a question by Mr. H. G. Harker (Opp., Hawke's Bay),'said everything possible was being done to make available maximum quantities of diaper cloth, winceyette, clydella and woollen lines for baby wear. Importers were being given every assistance to obtain these goods, which, with the exception of cot blankets and flannel, were imported from overseas, principally from the United Kingdom. Suppliers had been unable, because of labour and other trobules, to meet New Zealand importers’ full requirements, but officers of his department had racently been instructed to make further representations on the highest level for better supplies of these goods for New Zealand, said the Minister. He hoped these representations would be successful. As far as cot blankets and flannel manufactured by New Zealand mills were concerned, shortage of labour was the limiting factor and he was unable to say when the position would improve. Mr. Jones, replying to Mr. P. G. Connolly (Govt., Dunedin Central), who had asked the Minister to favourably consider issuing the New Zealand Cross to fathers of deceased servicemen whose mothers were already deceased, said the Government w.as

already considering the matter. Conditions of issue were now being completed and an announcement could be expected at a very early date. BUILDING BOTTLENECKS Mr. Semple, replying to a question by Mr. C. M. Bowden (Opp., Karori), said action had been taken to investigate all bottlenecks in the production of building materials and to facilitate the supply of additional materials from overseas and within the Dominion. Mr. Bowden, discussing the Minister's answer, said a conference called by the Minister in May had pointed out the need for an increased rate of waterfront work to speed up the transport system. At present &.000 tons of goods were held up in Lyttelton awaiting shipment to the North Island, and there was a lot in Wellington awaiting shipment to the South. The round trip between Wellington now took 25 days instead of 14. Similarly, the round trip on the Australian run took 90 days instead of 30 formerly. Mr. Semple said the report of the conference on the supply of building materials to which Mr. Bowden referred had been discussed by Cabinet, since when a committee appointed by Cabinet had sat constantly to discuss problems involved. A recent deputation of returned servicemen, after hearing what was being done, went away satisfied that nothing more could be done. The difficulties were well known, but it was not easy to correct them. There were difficulties in getting gypsum and cement. An Opposition Timber; There are thousands of tons awaiting transport at Golden Bay. Mr. M. H. Oram (Opp., Manawatu) said the cement question alone made it clear that the problem was one of turn-round of shipping. There were not only thousands of tons of cement at Golden Bay awaiting shipping, but thousands more tons there awaiting final processing once the bins were emptied. MINISTERIAL REPLIES. The House spent most ot the afternoon discussing Ministerial answers to questions. Mr. Semple, replying to a question by Mr D. C. Kiad (Opp., Waimate), said tliat new railway wagons being imported from England would be divided equally between the North and .South, Islunas.

Mr. Parry, replying to Mr. E. P. Aderman (Opp., New Plymouth), said tne Social Security Commission, acting at tiie request of various education boards, |iad warned a number ot parents that if the attendance of their children at school continued to be irregular without good reason, tiie Commission might have to consider terminating the family benefit granted in respect of the children. Mr. Parry said that the Commission had, in fact, in a few cases, found it necessary to discontinue the benefit, but v.his action was taken only after careful investigation into reasons for nonattendance at school. M; Jones, replying to Dr. A. M. Finlay (Govt., North Shore), who had drawn his attention to a published report, that a man, after obtaining a priority ail passage to Australia on prescntat.on of a doctor's certificate, •vad in fact made the journey for the sole purple of backing a horse, said inquiries nad failed to locate any person who improperly obtained a priority Hight in the manner stated. Replying to Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Opp., Wallace), Mr. Jones said that consideration had been given to the purchase of helicopters, and developments in tiie United States said Britain were being closely followed by the Air Department. These aircraft, however, were stiii in the developmental stage. They were extremely expensive and the upkeep was high. The Government considered it premature at present to impor, helicopters.