§ Mr. HALLSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a scheme of housing for the urban district 562W council of Whitefield was approved by his Department on the 29th of June, 1920, and that the Housing Commissioner urged the authority to have everything in readiness to proceed; that land was bought, roads made, and sewers laid; that there are nearly 400 applicants for houses who cannot be supplied; that the additional houses could now be built at about one-third the cost of the 86 just completed; that the medical officer of health stated in his annual report for 1921 that the number of new houses still required to be erected in the district in the next two years is estimated at 360, and that action under the Housing Acts with regard to clearance and reconstruction of unhealthy area cannot proceed until provision has been made for the accommodation of displaced tenants; and will he now reconsider their application to proceed with the additional houses?
§ Sir A. MONDI regret that I cannot see my way to allocate further houses under the assisted scheme to this small place. I am, however, prepared to give sympathetic consideration to a proposal to make any land already acquired available on favourable terms for the erection of houses outside the assisted scheme, and if the council desire I will be glad to arrange for officers of the Ministry to discuss the matter with representatives of the council.