STATE HOUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 4

STATE HOUSES.

END OF THE EXPEBIMEini - J 3: t - (Bt Telegraph.—Special to 'WwvTf ) * WELLINGTON, tins d»y. 1 An extensive clearing < saleiof ,ta3* ing materials at the Public Workilelk store in Wellington this week ddbriW? marks the end of the Govenwaf. efforts to build workers' dwellings « its own account. Builders and plumfc ers gathered in strong forcefor-a"fi»!» day," but the general public ■.also «• tended in strong force, and prices **" generally close to the current wkoto»»' quotations for the standard .line*,■*■■-' mitted by the auctioneer.. w; : . The quantities which passed ?»«* the hammer chow that when the.««*• ing experiment was suspended, ■&* Labour Department had bought the Win. cipal supplies for at least one hmerea houses for the Wellington district..Unfortunately, mowt of the buying »» done at,, peak prices, bo that the anctwa sale, although producing good results in line with current conditions, vul impress the Labour 'Department .with tne fact that it must lose about fifty per cent, on its .original outlay. ... ~ One of the main lines comprised W r tons of corrugated roofing iron, m 4 ™ have been bought at between *60 «na ; £70 per ton. The auctioneer did ?«£ to clear this large quantity at age price of £29 per ton, being »..?«•: return of about £3,800, which is « le » .the minimum Toss to the Government, on this line alone. Thousands_of «** of electric conduit, galvanwed *°» piping and fittings, big lots o* ""JSS fittings, and many gross of eieran fittings and house furnishings ramunder the hammer, and realisedjneaeij ate prices, although representatives « the trade were not jubilant over £7 bargains. The clearance was «ompl«* and this was the end of an espenew? housing experiment. ; .. ~ :