WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3321, 28 October 1919, Page 5

WORKERS ’ DWELLINGS.

__..__n_..__ TENDERS TOO HIGH.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 27.

It is known that the Labour Department. has had difficulty in obtaining satisfactory tenders for workers’ dwellings. How great the difiicultics have been is shown by a letter quoted by Mr Smith (Taranaki) in the House "of Representatives to-night. This was a circular -lefter from the Superintendent of Workers’ Dwellings, which ,hc said, had caused great concern in New Plymouth. The letter stated that the Department had been unable to obtain tenders for worhers’ dwellings in New Plymouth. Thellowest tender in concrete was £1023 4/, and with the cos-t of the land and administration added, the total cost would be much in excess of the maximum allowed for by the Act. The Department had been able to arrange for dwellings only in Wellington, and prolbaby Auckand, Nelson, and Timaru. Envdeavours would be made to get the successful tenderers to build in other towns. ‘ Mr Smith asked the Prime Minister what steps he proposed to take for the immediate erection of homes in New Plymouth, as there were 200 people in ne'ed of houses there, chiefly owing to the purchase of homes for soldiers. The Prime Minister said that the tenders at New Plymouth were excessive, and it was not in the intel'o.<ts of either the Government oi‘ applicants that they should be accepted He intended to ask the Department to invite fresh tenders shortly. If they could not get local tenders .-they must try to get some builders from -other towns to act as suggested in the letter. Mr Smith: “Will the Minister ascortain the cause of the high prices? The Prime Minister said he would have enquiries made.