STATE HOUSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1939, Page 7

STATE HOUSES

GREATER OUTPUT DESIRED BY MINISTER.

AN EXTERNAL SURVEY

(Ry Teleeranh —Press Association.) DUNEDIN. January 16

Since taking over the portfolio of housing, the Minister, Mr Armstrong, has been busy surveying the scope of the department in 83 towns in which it is building dwellings. The Minister, who will go to Christchurch tomorrow after an official visit to Dunedin, said today that, having completed an official survey of his new department, his next concern was to get out to the jobs to see something of the work being done by the 5000 men employed. Information given by the Minister shows that 2300 houses have been completed and 2100 are in course of construction. Contracts have been let for an additional 100 not yet begun, and the department awaits satisfactory tenders on a further 660.

Though the housing shortage is being attacked on a wide front. Mr Armstrong did not express himself nearly satisfied with the speed being made, having in mind that there were about 15,000 applications from people in various parts who needed houses. He said that if he could get skilled men he could double the rate. The need for faster completion was an aspect on which he intended to concentrate. Much of the Minister's time has been taken up with correspondent from applicants urging particular claims. The impression appeared to be that precedence could be secured by writing to the Minister, but the fact was that houses were allotted strictly according to the urgency of individual cases by a committee associated with the State Advances Department,