HOUSING PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1920, Page 3

HOUSING PROBLEM

ACTION UNDER WAR REGULA-. TIONS ACT. WELLINGTON, -May 19. Cabinet has decided to exercise the provisions of the regulations under the . War Regulations Act in such n manner that only essential buildings can for j the time being be proceeded with. . The regulations provide for the consent of the Finance Minister for. the erection, repair, or extension of build- ; ings exceeding in cost'£3ooo, other j than for residential purposes. The policy is not to interfere with buildings already in course of erection, as tin's ( would cause undue hardship, both to j owners and contractors. Any largo; building scheme must henceforth have I the sanction of the Minister until the | present housing tlifflcnlty has been satis- . faetorilv dealt with. , There is still a scarcity of skilled labour and of material, though at the moment more timber is being produced . than ever before in New Zealand, and i a certain amount of timber is also coming from Canada. The Labour Department estimates that there are at present 1200 houses in course of erection in the Dominion. This should mean that fully -5000 houses will have been erected within the year. 1

BUILDING MATERIALS FOR SCHOOLS. AUCKLAND, May 19. The difficulties experienced by the Education Board in securing building material for the erection of new schools were recently brought to the notfep of the Minister of Education, with a request that if necessary he should introduce legislation ' giving Education Boards first call on building materials for schools. In a reply received by the Board today, the lion C. J. Parr expressed fullest sympathy in the matter, and agreed that if at nil possible, efforts should he made to ensure that Education Boards receive preference in respect to building materials for schools. He did not- know whether it was possible to take- the necessary action under the Board of Trade Regulations, or whether legislation were required, hut he was going into the matter very carefully with his colleagues in the Cabinet and with the Board of Trade, and hoped to arrive at some solution of the problem.