CONCRETE HOUSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2047, 28 October 1919, Page 3

CONCRETE HOUSES.

The New South Wales Minister of Housing (Mr Hull) - has found a builder of cheap concrete houses. Replying to a deputation the other day, he said ho realised, soon after taking charge of the Department, how difficult it would be to overtake the shortage of houses by building in brick. For one thing, there wore not enough bricklayers. For a long while he had been inquiring into the possibilities of concrete. He had found, however, that many of the concrete authorities ■were faddists, who could not /‘deliver the goods.” Whenever a, man came to him with a concrete house building proposition he had given him a plan, and told him: “Build that one, and if it is satisfactory I'll give yon un order for 50.” He was glad to announce that he had now found an acceptor for his offer. This was Mr Menkin, who was in charge of the construct ion of the big silo at Glebe Island. Making ample allowance for accident, Mr Menkin had undertaken to have two houses up within three weeks.’ “I don’t know whether lie can do it,” said Mr Hall, “hut I have undertaken that if he docs, and if (he houses are the kind the people want, those who can construct them will not lack'opportunity.” He was noF quite sure of the cost of the houses. The larger one would probably he purchasable at-about .Cl Is u week, and the smaller at about 17s. One was' to. he a monolith made out of one big piece of cement —and the other would he built out’of slabs! As to the first, the builders had offered for every 50 cottages ordered, to deliver one. a week. As to cost, for every £IOO the Government spent on a cottage the tenant Avould, on this principle, have to pay 8s a week, in order to make the cottage his own in 25 years.