§ 41. Mr. LORDENasked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to encourage the acquisition of houses by persons desiring to occupy, and at the same time to lessen the cost of housing to the State, by further amending the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Act, 1899, so as to enable local authorities to make advances up to 90 per cent. of the value, to increase the advances up to £1,000, to limit the rate of interest to 4 per cent., to increase the period of repayment to 50 years, and for the Government to reimburse local autho- 398 rities for any loss incurred, in the same manner as is now done under the Housing, etc., Acts?
§ Sir A. MONDI do not think the suggestions proposed would be likely to increase materially the number of new houses, while they would increase the liability of the Exchequer. In view of the need for restricting expenditure at the present time, I am not prepared to introduce legislation as proposed.