IMMEDIATE STEPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 12

IMMEDIATE STEPS.

HOUSING SPEED-UP.

TRAINING LOCAL MEN.

TRADESMEN TO BE IMPORTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

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 effo.rt>s were tq be mad 3 to obtain skilled tradesmen frc»m 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. Savagep had been discussed very fully by members of the caucus. The Minister of Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, had given an address in which he gave extensive details of the State housing scheme, and referred to the difficulty of obtaining the services of a' sufficient number of experienced tradesmen. Everyone was of the opinion that immediat steps should be taken to bring skilled men from abroad, and to train more New Zealanders for the building trade i|s well. It was felt that unless some such action was taken, it would be impossible to overtake the arrears of years Jin the construction of houses. Efforts - would be made in the United -Kingdom, Canada and Australia to obtain the additional tradesmen required from overseas. Australia and Canada were probably the most suitable countries, because tradesmen there were more accustomed to colonial building requirements. °

Mr. Savage said the activities of the labour Department were also the subject of a report by the Minister of lAbouj, the Hon. P. C. Webb. This department'would be 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 the 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. "Wc had a very interesting two days, discussing and considering things that matter at the moment," said Mr. Savage.