HOUSING SCHEME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 9

HOUSING SCHEME

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS FOUR MILLION MARK REACHED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A statement that the total commitments to date under the Government's housing scheme, including land and housing, amounted to £4,000,000 was made last evening by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, Mr J. A. Lee. He said a start was made ,with organising in September, 1936, and that the first contracts were signed in March, 1937. The progress since then had been noteworthy. “Land for State housing has been acquired in 83 towns,’ said Mr Lee. “Tenders have been called for 3777 houses. There are houses occupied in no fewer than 20 towns. The average number of houses in each contract is five. The Housing Construction Department has at present 153 different contracting firms at work or just commencing work. In addition, double that number of firms are probably engaged as sub-contractors. “The total number of persons directly engaged on housing construction and associated works in 4582, and probably at least 9164 persons in all are directly deriving employment as a result of the operations of the department. These people are, in turn, employing retailers, manufacturers, etc.”