THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1920, Page 5

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME. By Telejrash.—Press Association. Wellington, August 5' Additional particulars j relating to the co-operative housing scheme mooted byfour big contracting firms in Wellington indicate that the proposals are national in their scope. The idea suggested to the Government is that all building, with the exception of tlie erection of houses, schools and hospitals, shall cease for a period of twelve months, during which time all contractors in the Dominion shall concentrate on houses. A special board would control all building material. The scheme would be extended to any centre where houses were needed. Provision of the necessary materials 1 for a large number of houses has already been guaranteed by British firms. Mr James Fletcher, managing director of Fletcher Bros., stated to a Post reporter: "We are in a position to import direct and so effect considerable savings. We say positively that our | schemle spells economy as far as the Oovernment is concerned, for we propose to eliminate middlemen, of whom there are several. Should the Government O.K. our scheme, we would not be able to commence operations for six or seven months, and that would give contractors an opportunity to clean up any work in nand, although it is not suggested that all contracts would be finished by then. I am prepared to give my services to the Government to organise the scheme and place it on a proper working basis." M. Fletcher estimated that 2400 houses, were needed, involving great expenditure. It was necessary for the Government to finance the scheme. The only charge against the scheme was 2J per cent, to the contractors. Two houses out of every 100 erected would be allocated to the Building Trades Federation to be held in trust for the use of such members of the organisation as suffered from old age, incapacity or for the widows of members. These houses could never be sold. The Government bad not yet endorsed the scheme.