THE HOUSING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 31, 31 October 1919, Page 8

THE HOUSING SCHEME

PROGRESS REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL

WORK TO GO AHEAD

At last evening's meeting of the City Council the following report was presented by the supervisor (Mr. Robert MlCenzie) :—

"Tlio actual work of erection was commenced on October 22 on Section 11, with three carpenters. A fourth man started on Saturday last, and two others on Tuesday, October 28. The concrete boxing for the foundation of the. first house is completed. A start has been made with the foundation on Section 12. I have taken out the quantities of the various timbers for the three houses authorised and invited quotations from eight timber yards in town. The difference in price is hnrdly apparent, 1 would suggest that if it is the intention to erect the fifty houses mentioned that the. timber bo procured direct, and that an order be placed as soon as a decision is arrived at. The class of labour offering is only mediocre, it being impossible to secure good men at 2s. per hour, while men are advertised for by the score at 2s. Gd. per hour for a nine-hour day, and in some ea-'cs for even more."

Councillor B. A. Wright, M.P., said the problem which confronted the council in regard to brick houses was that it was harder to get bricklayers than carpenters. So it bad been decided that the council should go. on with the additional houses with concrete foundations, the balance to be in wood. The position was that they must have houses of some kind, and if was no good wasting any more time. The engineer had reported that houses built of good timber, and with concrete foundations would last a considerable time. "Personally," said Mr. Wright, "I am prepared to'build SO houses, in wood, with concrete foundations, rather than waste any more time." (Hear, hear.)

"I never thought it was the policy of this council to buy timber in the retail market nt an exorbitant-price," remarked Councillor W. H. Bennett. "T think it should be the policy of the committee to buy the timber at the source of supply—the quarter vrhere the timber is produced. 'We should get it at the most reasonable price possible. I am against getting it from the local timber yards."

"1 am not surprised nt what is said about prices," remarked Councillor T. Forsyth, "because any of us who know anything about trade' in the city know that there arc such things as 'rings' about." He thought the council should carry out the work at a fair price so far as labour was concerned.

Councillor G. Frost said it was almost impossible at the present time to erect brick houses because bricklayers were hard to get. < He was confident that the council would be wise in building the houses with concrete foundations • and sound timbers. Considerable time would thus bo saved. Councillor C. H. Chapman wanted to know whether the matter could not be hurried on a bit. With regard to labour, he thought it ought -to be recognised that the council should, pay 2s. Gd. per hour. Councillor P: Eraser, M.P.. suggested that the trades unions should bo asked to co-operate with the council in tho matter of building. There ,wcre men working on the waterfront who could be induced to go back to the building trades if satisfactory'wages were paid to them. "Councillor C. ,1. B. Norwood trusted that group? of men would be encouraged .to go in for' building houses. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said the engineer had reported to him that there was not much chance of setting groups of men to go in for building houses. He wanted it to be known that the Wellington City Council was paying wages in excess of the rates paid by other concerns. About a fortnight ago a deputation had stated to him that, by its policy the council was demoralising the building trades, ire replied that the council would do what was fair to the men and proper for the community. There was no getting away from the fact that thero was a process of bargaining going on in the building trade by which it was sought to get the men available to work for certain employers. Some contractors were also carrying out building operations on a percenlnge basis. The City Council intended to go on with the building of the houses, and there would be no slackening iii its policy. The scheme would be pushed on. He Considered the committee should havo full charge of the work. It should look on thn schemo as a business undertaking, take its courage in both hands, get on with the wor¥, and. not be hampered by the council on the one.hand and public criticism on the other.

Councillor -M. I'. Luckie: Should, the committee have power to increase wages without reference to the council ? The Mayor: Certainly. Councillor W. H. Bennett stated that there were buildings being erected in this city, the contractors for which had been instructed to go ahead irrespective of cost, even if they two: to pay as much as ss. an hour. Tho buildings were being erected on a percentage basis, and the more tho contractors paid for labour the more money they made. , In reply to a question, Mr. Luke said he was of the opinion that the Dominion was fast coming to the time when there would bo a fixed wage for all classes of unskilled labour, as compared with a standard scale for skilled workers. The report was adopted.