STATE HOUSING TO CONTINUE AND SLUMS BE ELIMINATED

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 September 1950, Page 7

STATE HOUSING TO CONTINUE AND SLUMS BE ELIMINATED

"It is the policy of the Government to encourage people to own their own homes and increased facilities to enable them to do so have been made available,’’ said the Minister of Works (Mr. Goosman) in the House of Representatives yesterday in tabling the annual report of the Ministry of Works. “Having regard to the fact that our economy depends, in the main, on our primary production, the Government is anxious that more houses should be built in the rural areas and in the smaller towns and is taking the necessary steps to ensure that an improvement of the housing position in these areas is secured,” he said. “At the same time, the Government is conscious of the fact that there still remains much to be done to overtake the existing acute shortage of housing accommodation in the larger centres. “The construction of State houses will be continued but the Government hopes that by making available to individuals and to building organisations land near the larger centres, there will be sufficient inducement for private interests to build homes instead of the Government accepting such a heavy responsibility.” The Minister stressed the need for the clearance of slums in the major cities which, he said, was long overdue. It was a matter in which the Government was particularly concerned and on which discussions with local bodies had

already started. “It is intended that the State’s responsibility should be limited to financial assistance and that the planning and the actual work of demolition, rebuilding and the rehousing of displaced persons should be the responsibility of the local authorities.” He felt sure the Government’s intentions would have the whole-hearted support of local bodies and the general public. During the year ended on March 31, 1950, £10,709,616 was spent on housing construction by the Government. The Director of Housing Construction in his annual report stated that 4007 houses were completed during the year compared with 4193 during the previous year. Had it not been for the setback ii> the Auckland district as a result of the carpenters’ dispute, as a result of which about 250 houses were lost, it was considered that the previous year’s record figulL would have been surpassed. At the end of March, 407 principal contractors were engaged on State housing with a labour force of 6011 men. Difficulty in obtaining sub-con-tractors for painting and plumbing had also delayed the handing over of houses for occupation in some centres. The report stated that the number of rehabilitation trainees employed on housing contracts was falling off as fewer men were coming forward for training r«id this was reflected in Ibe reduced number of houses built during the year. In 1948 trainees built 12.32 houses, in 1949 1044 houses and last year only 795. a total of 3071. “The amount of land acquired for State housing purposes is less than for the previous years,” the report stated. “Approval has been given to acquire 93 different properties in 51 separate towns, which are estimated to provide sufficient land for 1818 house units. Eighty-one, of these properties, providing about 1570 sites, have been acquired by purchase negotiation, and 12, providing about 2-18 sites, have been acquired under the compulsory provisions of the Public Works Act. Approval has also been obtained to transfer 54 sections in 20 different towns to the Lands and Survey Department for the purpose of sale as sites churches, kindergartens. Plunkci. rooms, departmental residences, schools, doctor’s residences, and for disposal to returned servicemen.