HOUSING PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 18826, 20 May 1920, Page 7

HOUSING PROBLEM

RESTRICTION OF BUILDING. ESSENTIAL WORK ONLY, (Per United Pres,-: Association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. The shortage of hon.-es throughout the Dominion has become so acute that. Cabinet lias agreed, in an i ttort to aid rapid reconstruction of (Uvedmas, that in future practically only essential buildings arc to proceed. A brief annount'i’mrnl to this effect was made by the Prime Minister this morning but, no del ails of the means of carrying the decision into eft.- a are available. The decision of the Cabinet does not apply to buildings already in omr.-i' of construction. It is understood ilia! no new legislation will be needed to give efher to the proposal, bur that advantage will be taken of the war regulations which make it necessary for the approval of the .Minister of Finance to be secured when the erection of buildings costing more than Cd.tUK) is contemplated The new conditams are expected lo come into force almo.-t immediately, BUILDING PERMITS TO BE RE‘Jt dRED. WELLINGTON. May 10. The Governni mt Las decided to pul into operation the t ,wer it. ha.- under statute of stopping unnecessary budding in order that the avails!•!•• b: car and capital lor building may be c>,ne, , r.trutcd on the construction ni the oioivt of the decision being to (•■••cover some <.f rho present housing shortage all over thee ceiinirv. Mr Mi •ssey said to-day that the Cabinet had decided P> eniorce eeriam war regulations. but th.-y would apply only to building works, and not to any other works, and they would n,,i be applied p, any building in course of construction. People wishing to embank upon bonding enterprises other than the building of rc-idcmtal places must, in future conm to the Minister of Finance, and the M;:u-ter w, u!d a.ct tn accordance with the regulations until the present housing ditriai;!;y c.oi.e : ; ait cm!, or that phase or it caused by -oil of labour ami shortage of m; 1.-. Mr Ma -aid i>; •> h.e was informed by ‘he La at there were IdOO resiii nee.- e.r nresent in course or trection in N, w Zealand.