WORKERS' DWELLINGS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1919, Page 7

WORKERS' DWELLINGS

BUILDLYGS ERECTED TO DATE. The following figures show the number of houses built annually by the labor Department since the passing of the first of the Workers' Dwelling* Acts, ra., the Act ,of 3805:—190(1-7, 71; 1(107-8. 2a; 11)08-!), 14; 1909-10, IS; 1910-11, 0; 1911-12, 59; 1912-13, .13; 1913-14, 81: 1914-15, 162; 1915-10, 82; 1916-17, 00: 1917-18, 21; 1918-19, 14; total, 055. It will be observed that far more bouses were erected in 1914-15 than in any other year. The explanation of the rise in the number lies in the fact that up to 1912 t'lie Department confined itsolf to building in the four big centres, but thereafter extended its operations to the secondary towns. But for the .outbreak of war the Department would have adhered to the higher rati! of building adopted in 1914. The total amount, voted between 1907 and 1919 for the purchase of land and the erection of dwelling* wan £444.273; and the, total amount expended was £310,011. The rise in the cost of erected dwellings is shown in the figures that follow (the basis of reckoning is £IOO to the contract price for building a house in 1907); the figures for 1908 and 1009 remain at the £IOO level (showing no rise In the price); those for the suceeding year* are:—l9lo, £lO5 (showing a rise of 5 per cent.); 1911, same; 1912, £llO (showing a rise of 10 per cent.); 1913, pame as 11112; 1914, £l2O (showing a rise of 20 per cent.); 1915, same as 1914; 1910, £l4O (showing a rise of 40 per ceut.); 1917, £IOO (showing a rise of CO per cent,); 1918, £IBO (shewing i! rise of SO per cent.); 1919, £l7O (showing a decrease of 10 per cent, on the cost for the previous year, but an Increase of 70 per cent, on the cost for 1907-9).