Vol. 15 No. 28
I move:—
"That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Standing Order 85, the Report Stage of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1932 be taken to-day."
I think we have had a fairly exhaustive discussion on the amendments and the Minister, I think, has met those that would be likely to arise. I hope the Bill will now be completed.
I beg to second the motion. As the House knows, I am opposed to taking the remaining stages of a Bill, as a rule, but I would point out to the House that one of the things I am anxious about, in connection with this Bill, is the loss of the building year if this Bill is delayed much longer. We are now at the end of the month of July and, unless building operations are started almost immediately under this Bill, we will lose the building of this year. Nothing will be done until the spring of next year and I am anxious, therefore, that this Bill should get through as speedily as possible.
How is it proposed to deal with the amendments which the Minister was going to look into, and, more particularly, the amendment of Senator Sir Edward Bigger?
We will have that amendment, I am sure.
But we do not know exactly in what form. Apart from that, there is no reason whatever why the Bill should not go through.
I think the amendment that Senator Sir Edward Bigger requires can be put before the House now in a form which will be acceptable.
I move:
In Section 2, lines 30-31, to delete the words "when used without qualification."
Senator Sir Edward Coey Bigger's amendment will come now.
This is the amendment:
In Section 6. To add a new sub-section as follows:—
(5) the regulations prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of this section shall provide that in the allocation of any houses in respect of the provision of which a certain contribution is made under this section preference shall wherever practicable be given to families living in one-roomed dwellings where either
(a) one or more members of any such family is or are suffering from tuberculosis; or
(b) one or more members of any such family exclusive of the parents has or have attained the age of sixteen years; or
(c) such dwelling has been condemned as being unfit for human habitation.
Does that satisfy you, Senator?
I think that satisfies me.
