HOUSING PROBLEM

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 13

HOUSING PROBLEM

GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS WORKERS FROM OVERSEAS (By Telegraph—.Assnclai on > WELLINGTON, Friday Steps that are to be taken by the Government to accelerate housing construction in the Dominion were outlined by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview at the conclusion of to-day’s caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He said that immediate efforts were to be made to obtain skilled tradesmen from abroad and to train a greater number of New Zealanders for the building trade. The caucus is to resume to-morrow morning, when consideration is to be given to questions of defence. The housing problem, said Mr Savage, had been discussed very fully by members of the caucus. It was fell that unless some such action was taken it would be impossible to overtake the arrears of years in the construction of houses. Mr Savage said the activities of the Labour Department were also the subject of a report by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. G. Webb. This department would he concerned in the training of additional tradesmen in this country, and proposals had been submitted by Mr Webb for having men from the 138 scheme trained in building and other crafts and restored back to industry. Further consideration, said Mr Savage, had also been given to the question of industrial expansion within Urn Dominion. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, reported on the progress made up to the present. Every member of the party would be taking part in the campaign in support of New Zealand industries.