SERVICEMEN’S HOMES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 6

SERVICEMEN’S HOMES

FURTHERCOMMENT BY MR H. E. BATCHELOR Mr H. E. Batchelor, vice-president of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association, this week protested against some builders seeking work for which rehabilitation loans would not be accepted. Yesterday morning a reply by Mr J. R. Smith, president of the Canterbury Master Builders’ Association, was published in which he said that all builders asked was that the . Government should make die specifications for houses built under the system of rehabilitation loans the same as those for State houses. Further comment has been made by Mr Batchelor as follows: “Specifications for rehabilitation loans are designed to protect former servicemen. Most builders in Christchurch accept these specifications. ”Mr Smith should be more concise and state what specifications should be eased or lifted and how that easing or lifting would affect the life of a house. The Government has already mads some sections available to for* mer servicemen and will make con* siderably more available as soon al the land is surveyed and sub-divided. I think the Government would be foolish to allow sub-standard houses to be built apiongst State houses. "Furthermore, more than 50 per cent of former servicemen desire a State house. How are they to be accommo* dated if State housing sections are to be sold regardless of the State’s requirements? ‘‘Most building contractors are reputable and willing to build to rehabilitation specifications. Mr Smith appears to be more concerned in protecting the small disreputable minority than in supporting the large reputable majority of his members. It was against the small minority that my resolution was directed. Will Mr Smithsay why builders in other centres are: willing to work to specifications while speculative building is practically coafined to Christchurch?* Mr Smith said he had no further' comment to offer.