Need For State Housing Scheme For Dairy Factories

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1949, Page 4

Need For State Housing Scheme For Dairy Factories

Although the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) had given a personal undertaking that State houses would be built where land was available and permanent occupancy could be assured, and Mr Semple bad stated that tire Government was prepared to com sider building Slate houses for the dairy industry, the fact remained that none had been built, said Mr W. E. Hale, chairman oi the New Zealand Dairy Board, at a ward conference in .Vanganui last night. Nearly three years ago, said Mr Hale, the Dairy Board investigated the housing needs of tne industry and reported diem lo the Government. The understanding with the Government at the time was that a certain proportion of State rental houses would be built where required and that money would be made available ai. 3 per cent, where dairy companies desired to build their own houses. Some companies had obtained this 3 per cent, money and others had ari linance through their own banks. ■ real stumbling block, however, ■ tin high cost or building, said Mr Hale. Dairy company directors justi- • claim I that while town employers of labour were assisted with ... i • rental houses subsidised by the taxpayer, the whole burden of providing housing for dairy factory workers should not fall on their employers.