Prefabricated Houses For N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 9, 18 October 1950, Page 6

Prefabricated Houses For N.Z.

The Ministry of Works has prepared a plan for the production of prefabricated houses in New Zealand. It will be submitted to the Government for approval. The houses planned are permanent dwellings, prefabricated in 22ft by lift sections and including all plumbing and electrical fittings. The sections may be erected separately according to need. A basic house would probably comprise two sections, but additional sections could be added. The cost of the dwellings would be slightly less than an_ ordinary house.

Possible sites of factories to build the houses are at Hamilton and Rotorua. Private enterprise would be asked to do the job, but the State Forest Service could fill the breach if no suitable private contractors are interested.

The need for' prefabricated or rural houses has risen from the lack of building tradesmen willing to work in the backblocks. Also when under way, prefabrications would result in greatly accelerated building. Once the foundations were laid, a house could be erected in less than a day.

Though the scheme is primarily designed to speed land settlement, prefabricated houses could eventually be offered for sale and erection in urban areas.