SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1923, Page 1

SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

PROBLEM IN SYDNEY

SYDNEY. Aug. L li is estimated that 13,000 additional bouses arc urgently needed in the metropolitan area if the rapidly-in-creasing population of the city is to be accommodated in comfort. According to one of the Cabinet .Ministers stic-'n a building scheme would involve an expenditure of probably 212,000,000. The Government find the money and the problem is: Who is to lied itk The reluctance of men with money to rind a profitable investment fur it by building only Ur hating purposes, and their disposition to build only for quick sales is attributed by the secretary ot the .Master Builders’ Association to the Fair Rents Court and the limitations imposed upon landlords by that I ribuinil. and the high cost of building material and of construction. So the problem apparently can only be solved bv the Government, either directly or by the indirect method of guaranteeing landlords a reasonable profit on their investments. The secretary of the .Bricklayers’ Union, on the other band, savs a .solution of (lie difficulty lies in the engagement by master builders of boys as apprentices. The retort of the master builders, according to this official, is that they cannot take boys as apprentices because they are unable to guarantee continuity of work over ihe period covered bv the articles of apprenticeship. The position has been made more acute by the notices lo house dwellers in ihe vicinity of the proposed harbour bridge to get out in order to make way for flint massive structure. They will make a homeless legion in themselves unless they can readily find bouses.