WORKERS' DWELLINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 9

WORKERS' DWELLINGS

A PROGRESS REPORT f OPERATIONS IN EARNEST MAY BEGIN AFTER HOLIDAYS \ ■ If Tho Secretary for La'bour (Mr. F. W. •■ Rowley) yesterday gave a reporter somo indication of wlmt progress the Department is making with the building pro gramme that it .embarked upon during the year. The erection of some 200 workers' dwellings in various towns was authorised, but tho Department has not yet been ablo to let contracts for the. full an in be r. In Wellington and Petone, states Mr. Rowley, 112 houses have been be,gun; in Auckland, 12 houses: in Nelson, two; and in Mn.sterton, eight. Negotiations for tho erection of fivo more buildings in Auckland, 10 in Wanganui, 10 in • Hawera, 15 in New Plymouth*, three in > Timarn, eight in Oamarn, nnd two in Dunedin aro proceeding at present; and tho Department hopes that tho work will be commenced shortly after the holidays. So far, no satisfactory tenders have been received for tho building of tho houses allotted to applicants in Palmerston North, Napier, Christchuvch, fnvereargill, Winton, Otorohanga, Marton, Feilding, Morrinsville. Taihane. To Awamulu, and Te Arolia It is possible that builders to whom contracts in ono town have already been let may tender later on for contracts in. other centres. In cases in which tho Department has not yet been able to let contracts, it has inquired of applicants whether they could "carry on" with three rooms and conrenionces in the meantime, and leave the building of the remaining two rooms for a day when conditions in the building trade aro more nearly normal. Tho idea has, not heon taken up with enthusiasm by the applicants. The cement shortago slightly delayed operations recently at Mifamar, where Wellington's quota of workers' dwellings is being built. Tho dilflcnlty'hns, however, been temporarily solved, and work is proceeding satisfactorily.. The builders Jiavo not yet got beyond the foundations Tho source from which shingle is being " obtained is the Defonco Reserve at Seatoun. About 25 yards per day is liein? carted out in motor-lorries' owned by the Defence Department.