HOUSING SOLUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1920, Page 5

HOUSING SOLUTION.

new Scheme revealed. WELLINGTON EXPERIMENT. B* Telegrtph —Prtss Auoclatlon. Wellington, Last Night. Some leading builders and representatives ofthe unions engaged in the building trade have formulated a scheme for the ,er*4tioik of five hundred houses in tta WeJliH|ton district, .the structures to be of such permanent materials as }»&& and concrete. Some of the chief proposals are, that it board be established, to consist of one representative of the employers, one of ,tfce workers, and one of the Government. Representatives of the workers will undertake to provide all the labor neces"*ary, tfe Government representatives to be resjiwwftle for prompt payment of rages and aocounts. The wages to be paid are 2s fid per hour for skilled ' labor, sndSs per honr for unskilled labor. The whole of the cost "pf buildings, land, supervision, plant, etc., is to »e borne by the Government, together *ith A further charge of five per cent., livided equally between the employers rod the workers. The men are to be sonveyed to the works free of charge, aid hot water and suitable conveniences ire to be supplied, including a dining- ' foom.

Piecework is not to be allowed, and. tile whole of the buildings are to be sompleted within twelve months. These buildings are to have the first call on ill materials, so that there will be so Utch or delay in the progress of the / work,.and to ensure full time to work- \ »rs. The ."successful termination" of the scheme .is now a matter of practical politics. Only one unions-Wellington Central branch of the carpenters—voted igainst the scheme. Negotiations have been proceeding with the Board of rtttdc and the Government, and there Is ererr prospect of the scheme affording .an effective- solution of the housing problem.