SLOWING DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 217, 14 September 1939, Page 11

SLOWING DOWN.

STATE-BUILT HOUSES.

STOCKTAKING PROPOSED.

MEN WANTED FOR DEFENCE.

A general stocktaking of the position on State housing schemes in and around Auckland will be undertaken by officers of the Housing Department next week, with a view to deciding on the future policy to be pursued. Meanwhile an immediate curtailment has been neces-

sary. due to the fact that the staffs, materials and other resources of several contractors have been required by the Public Works Department for defence construction schemes.

J lie oreas whore activities liavo been reduced are Orakei, Kemuera and Mount | Roskill, but in each instance a niininuun number of trader men has been retained to bring unfinished houses to a stage where no deterioration will result. Activities at the Government's joinery factory at Penrose have not so far been affected, and in other respects operations are also being continued in as normal a manner as possible. Besides involving the completion of existing contracts, the proposed survey is expected to cover the purchase o"f housing sites and the utilisation of land acquired but not at present being developed. The areas are fairly widely distributed in the suburban districts.

Building operations at the Kingseat Mental Hospital have been, brought almost to a standstill, due to the transfer of carpenters to the new defence camp near Papakura, and the future progress of the nurses' home, which is the most important building now under construction at Kingseat, is indefinite. At present the walls of the upper storey are in a partly finished condition.

Two other buildings on which work has been stopped are the new Auckland Chief Post Office block and the Departmental block in Shortland Street. Xo curtailment has been reported in connection with the Musick Memorial radio directional station and accommodation buildings near the entrance to Tamaki Kiver.