BUILDING HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 209, 29 May 1920, Page 8

BUILDING HOUSES

THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS

MEN AND MATERIALS

SHORTAGES AND SLOW PROGRESS

Tho Minister of Labour (Sir William Herriesl mado a statement yesterday dealing with tho activities of the Department in building houses throughout the country. The statement runs:—

The total numbor of dwellings now in course of erection or for which contracts have been let since August last is 206. nine of which.have been completed. Progress has, in most eases, been slow—duo in the early stages to inability to obtain some of the materials required, tho chief difficulty being in regard to cement. Better progress is now anticipated, as almost all the materials required for 200 dwellings have been secured, besides which in come cases private contractors have made their own arrangements for materials. Furthermore, supplies .of cement are now coming to hand in a more satisfactory manner. Regarding further dwellings, a block of land lias been acquir/id at Papanui, Christchurch, and tenders were recently called for the erection of 75 dwellings thereon. It is hoped that the Department will bo able to accept one of these tenders in the course of a few days. The Department is also negotiating with builders in Wellington and several of tho smaller towns for the erection of a further number of dwellings. In all other towns where dwellings havo been allocated and no houses have been erected. arrangements are proceeding to acquire land, where such is not already available, and immediately it is obtained it is proposed to call for tenders for the erection of the dwellings. As in the smaller towns it is unlikely that the Department will get satisfactory tenders, it is proposed to group a number of the small towns, so as to encourage builders in a large way in the cliicf centres to tender. . With regard to materials for future dwellings it is hoped to be able to let the whole of the work by contract, the contractors to find all materials. It is found necessary, however, in regard to present contracts—and this is anticipated in connection with future contracts—to assist tho builders to obtain some of the materials, principally cemont and timber. In regard to Hio former, the Department has now made arrangements with the Board of Trade which it is hoped will secure sufficient supplies in the future. . The Department has 11 supplies of timber for the hrst 200 dwelling and an arrangement has been njailo with the Post and Telegraph Depa tment to obtain half a scow load that w. about 100,000 super, feot, from the North Auckland district. An endeavour is being made to arrango for a further « u P?ly from this 60UTC6. Inquiries are also S made with a view to W supply of timber from the West Coast of the South Island for the ChnstohuTch and other dwellings in the Southl There has not, up to the present, been any great difficulty in obtaining sufficient trade labour for llie dwellings in hand, the chief difficulty-as alrMi'S" stated-being the obtaining of matciwis It is obvious, howover, that if the J enartment is to proceed «ith \ nT " I P.I dwellings as allocated. the^lc^A y rg ''to arise both in obtaining contractors to Tiuild the dwellings and also the neceaS workmen. A case in point occurred recently at Mding, where a buih er was about to commence a picture whilst at the same time tlie Department was unable to secure abuilderoeroct dwellings in that town.- In this Cflso the builder was most anxious to di=rnntinue work on tho picture theatre ■and to erect workers' dwellings instead. He has since submitted a satisfactory tender to eroct dwellines _in 1> eliding mid Palmerston North. This emphasises tlie predion of non-essential Duiiain n 3 racing course stands, etc. uyerjini g ' «» oteolion .f «»- tional dwellings. Tn the following tabulated statement +hf> fitst oolumn represents dwellings conand in 'course |e asuftsffi £'» areceived and negotiations are pwceediM, and the last column wh ch preliminary arrangements are bem„ made. ' us 4 34 170 Wellington l}j» J _ 100 Auckland '' _ % 24 Christchurch ■» _ 25 Duncdin ..." . _ 12 N. Plymouth .. J _ _ 25 Hawera }S _ 4 51 Wanganui _ _ 6 Peildine. - _ _ 15. Palmerston N. .iu _ . _ w Masterton " A , _ 11 Kelson J J _ . 5 Oamaru 1 — — Paeroa „ 1 — Frankton Jn.... — _ 6 Hastings _ _ % Hamilton _ 1 _ 58 Invcrcarpm ... _ — 5 Jforrinsvlllo .... — _ _ 4 Marton .' _ _ — Levin 1 _ _ 10 Napier _ — 6 Otorolianga — __ _ j To Kuiti — _ fi To Arolia — — Te /Vwamutu ... — ~ _ 5 Tiuhane, Tlmwn ~ __ _ 4 Vinton " Totals m 9 127 CO9