STATE HOUSES FOR RURAL WORKERS IN THE RANGITIKEI

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 6

STATE HOUSES FOR RURAL WORKERS IN THE RANGITIKEI

I The intention of the Government ]to build State houses for rural workers in Marton, Bulls, and Hunterville was announced in a letter from the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, sent to headquarters of Federated Farmers, a copy of which was received at Monday’s meeting of the Wellington central provincial executive in Marton. Mr. Nash listed 44 places where rural housing was intended, but claimed that county councils could assist further by implementing the Rural Housing Act, 1939. The meeting decided to seek further information as to when lhe houses would be made available for rural workers, the president. Mr. F. C. Jurgens, commenting that the Minister had given no assurance that the houses would be made available as stated. The Government had arranged a comprehensive survey of the housing needs of rural and semi-rural districts, stated the Minister in his letter. Action was being taken to provide additional houses, some in towns where a housing scheme was already in operation and others in new localities. This represented a material contribution to the housing of workers engaged in primary industry, and it was intended that the policy should be continued and extended as the housing situation in those and similar localities warranted. It would be understood that in cases where action had already been taken the houses would form part of the State housing scheme, and the Government assumed the whole responsibility for the allocation and administration of such houses. In other more isolated areas, however, it jwas considered that the responsibility I for the selection of tenants and the (supervision of the property should be (shared to some degree with local organisations. He was satisfied that there was still scope for the implementation of the Rural Housing Act, 1939, and the Government, found it difficult to understand why so few county councils recognised the value of* the Act. There were 125 county councils in New Zealand and they could make a material contribution toward improving the housing situation in rural localities if they showed willingness to make use of the Act. The Minister suggested that. Federated Farmers could encourage county councils to operate the Act. The case of the casual worker not employed entirely on one farm called for a different approach, however. To some extent this class would be covered by building operations already started and now being extended in small settlements. In more isolated localities where it would be inappropriate to apply the ordinary State ; 1 rental scheme or the Rural Housing 'Act, the Government had not deIparted from the views previously expressed that local authorities, as best suited to determine the needs of any particular district, should accept some measure of responsibility. The Government had therefore decided to build State houses specially for rural workers in appropriate districts. subject to a local authority accepting responsibility for the selection lof tenants and the local administration and payment of rent. | Had Federated Farmers been apIproached regarding an allocation of State houses in either Marton or Hunterville? asked Mr. J. R. L. Hammond. Mr. Jurgens: They haven’t in Bulls. The Housing Department should let Federated Farmers know when the houses were being started, he added. At present when a house was finished and an inquiry was made whether it would be available for farm labour, the answer was always “we haven’t started that one yet.” The Minister’s letter reminded him of a horse deal, said Mr. W. S. Page. The purchaser found out the bad points when he took his . purchase home. He criticised the Minister’s comments about county councils interesting themselves in rural housing; county councils were set up to look after roads and bridges, not to be landlords, said Mr. Page. He expressed concern that rural workers’ dwellings were to be built in Marton, which was a borough and not a rural area.