HOUSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1920, Page 5

HOUSES.

DETAILS OF SHORTAGE. TWO YEARS TO OVERCOME. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter,) "Wellington, Last Night. A report, by the superintendent of the housing branch of the Labor Department deals with the operations of the branch from its inception in November, 1919, and contains an interesting calculation of the shortage of houses in New Zealand.

The superintendent estimates that the shortage of houses in October, 1918, amounted to *loo'dwollings; the houses required for the natural increase of the population and the returned soldiers in 1917, 1918 and 1919, numbered 8UH); and the estimated requirements for 1920. 1921 and 1922 are 6550 houses. The number of houses built and to be built during the period 19161922 is estimated at 21,800, less demolitions and fires 700, leaving a net shortage in 1922 of 3950 houses. The superintendent estimates the present shortage of houses at 7400. If arrangements are made under the Housing Act for the erection of 1300 houses a' year by the Department, the local bodies, employers and harbor boards, in addition to houses built by private enterprises, the shortage will be largely overcome by the end of 1922. The number of houses completed, started or proposed to bo erected by the Department since November, 1919, is 1085, and the superintendent believes that this rate can be improved as the difficulties are overcome. The chief difficulties have been shortage of labor and of material.

The report suggests that the statutory maximum cost of a house erected under the Workers' Dwellings Act should be increased. The present maximums are £775 for a wooden house and £BSO for a concrete house. Tlio Wellington City Conncil has built four-roomed houses of £llOs, and tffve-Toomed houses at A cost of £I3OO. The suggested maximum under the Workers' Dwellings Act' are £9OO for a wooden house and £ 1000 for a concrete house.