HOUSE FOR £650.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1922, Page 4

HOUSE FOR £650.

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The Minister for Labor (Mr. Anderson) stated in the House of Representatives recently iat his Department was considering a siheme for the erection of wooden houses at a cost of about £USQ each, including the sections. He wa* asked in the House on Thursday by Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) if he could proceed with the scheme. The Department was considering the scheme carefully, replied the Minister. Thf architect’s plans and estimates indicated that four-roomed houses could be provided at the price mentioned, but the proposition was such a good one that he was asking the Public Works Department to report upon it. He would go into the matter himself after the session and if the scheme appeared sound and he could get tenders he would proceed with the erection of some of the houses. The £660, added the Minister, appeared to be comfortable. All costs had bepn cut down as low as possible, but the conveniences provided were the greatest that could be supplied in snch a home. The plan showed two bedrooms, a living room and a fourth room with a bath and copper in it. Other conveniences were provided outside. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) had a question on the subject of housing. He asked if the Minister was aware , that the timber for houses could be cut in America and landed here ready for erection for £l7O per house, this covering everything except the chimney. I Would not the importation of these I ready-made houses help to solvtf the housing problem? Dr Newtaan added a suggestion that the Government might consider the erection of pise de terra or earthern bouses. Such houses would be very much cheaper than the extravagant houses that the Department w* s building at the present time. The Minister suggested that Dr. Newman should try his own hand at the erection of the American houses. The Department had gone into the matter and found that it could not do the work. The earthern houses might do very well in Central Otago, in Nelson, or in Hawke’s Bay. But they would not be suitable for construction in districts where there was much rain and frost.