Clause 1. — (Provision for Payment of Money to Persons Constructing Houses.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Housing (Additional Powers) Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 10 December 1919.

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Mr. WILSON:

I was trying to show that the adoption of this Amendment would be in the best interests of the community. At any rate, if the Amendment is accepted and the local authorities are even subsidised twice over, the money paid to the local authorities would go into the pockets of the whole of the ratepayers of the district in which the houses are erected, whereas if the money is paid to individuals it goes into the pockets of those individuals. Therefore it is bad economy to subsidise in the way the Government propose. I believe that more houses would be got if the right hon. Gentleman would accept this Amendment than if the private builder were subsidised. The local authorities can employ the private builder to erect the houses. What is the right hon. Gentleman going to do in that case? Is he going to subsidise the private builder, or is he only going to pay the local authority under the provisions of the Act which has already been passed?