WORKERS' DWELLINGS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 6

WORKERS' DWELLINGS

BUILDINGS ERECTED TO .DATE. The following figures show the number of houses built annually by the Labour Department since the passing of the first of the Workers' Dwellings Acts, viz., the Act of 1905: —190G-7. 71; 1907-8, 23; 1908-9, 14; 1909-10, 18; 1910-11, 0; 1911-12, 59; 1912-13 43; 1913-14 £1; 1914-15, 162; 1915li;. 82; 1818-17, 66; 1917-18, 21; 1918-19, 14: total. 655. 'It will be observed that far more houses were erected in 1914-15- than in any other year. The explanation of the rise in the number lies in the fact that up to 1912 the Department confined itself to building in the four big centres, but thereafter extended its operations to the secondary towns. But for the outbreak of war the Department would have adhered to ths higher rate of building adopted in 1914. The total amount voted between 1907 and 1919 for the purchase 'of land and the erection of dwellings was £144,273; and the tolal amount expended was £316.911. ~ . „ The rise in the cost of erecting dwell-, insrs is shown in the figures that follow /the basis of reckoning is,£loo of the contract price for building a house in 1907): the figures for 1908 and 1909 remain at the £100 level (showing no rise in the I price); those for the succeeding years are -1910. £105 (showing a rise of 5 per cent); 1911, same; 1912, £110 (showing a rise of Kk per cent.); 1913, same as 1912; 1914. £120 (showing a rise, o: 20 per cent.); 1915, same as 1914; 1916, £140 (showing a rise of 40 per cent.); 191 i, £160 (showing a rise of 60 per cent. ; 1918, £180 (showing a rise of 60 per cent.); 1919 £170 (showing a decrease of 10 per cent, on the 'cost for the previous, year, but. an increase of 70 per cent, on tue cost for 1907-9).