WORKERS' DWELLINGS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 7

WORKERS' DWELLINGS

A suggestion was made bj- Mr. H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) that in view- of the high cost of building the Government .would consider the advisability of adopting several standard plans of buildings to be erected in .concrete or other lasting material, with, a view of amending the Workers' Dwellings Act extending the time of payment, if necessary, to fifty years, so as to. reduce the annual payments to the worker. "The Department has already n. number of standard designs for dwellings in both wood and concrete," replied tho Prime Miuister, "and tenders aro in all cases invited in cither of those materials. Moreover, every encouragement is given by tho Department for the use of concrete in preference to wood. In regard to the question of providing for a longer term of payment for concrete dwellings, I would inform the honourable member that tho Act was in 19H amended in that direction by extending tho period from twenty-fivo years and a half to thirty-six years and a half. This extension effects a reduction in the weekly payments of from 2s. to 2s. Gd. It is not considered desirable to further extend the period to fifty yaare, as suggested."