HOME BUILDERS’ COURSES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27207, 26 November 1953, Page 9

HOME BUILDERS’ COURSES

“REMARKABLY GOOD RESPONSE”

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION OF TECHNICAL COLLEGES

(Mew Zealand Press Association/ WELLINGTON, November 24.

"A remarkably good response has been received to the Government’s call for applications for enrolment in classes which will provide instruction to enable students to finish building their own homes,’’ said the Minister of Housing (Mr W. Sullivan) today. “On the basis of the interest already shown, approval has been given for the building of 19 houses for instructional purposes,” he said. The intention was for the technical colleges to hold the classes, which would provide for theoretical instruction on .one evening each week and practical’ work on houses under the supervision of tradesmen on Saturdays, continued Mr Sullivan. Practically all the technical colleges had received the scheme with marked enthusiasm, but there were two instances in which the support offered seemed to be tinged with doubt. Instructional houses had been approved in those centres, in view of the obvious interest which was being shown by individuals in both places, but it would be useless to build houses for instructional purposes without the full cooperation of the technical colleges. Mr Sullivan said he believed that when the objective of the scheme was fully appreciated there would be the fullest support for it. The scheme was designed to help those who showed the energy and initiative to take the course and the response received so far indicated that they were to be found in all parts of New Zealand. The scheme did not aim to produce tradesmen but when there were people who would go ahead and build for themselves in any case it was obviously a good policy to provide them with the practical assistance which would enable them to build better houses.

Though it was not envisaged that the scheme would assume major proportions every house built would help to solve the housing problem. Building one’s own home made great demands on time, energy and patience and the Government was offering help to those who were prepared to face these difficulties realistically.

In all cases where technical colleges could guarantee classes of a sufficient number of suitable applicants the Government was prepared to build instructional houses for the practical class work to be undertaken. In addition to houses approved for the four main centres, approval had been given for the erection of instructional bouses at Whangarei, Whakatane. Te Awamutu, Napier, Palmerston North, Hutt Valley, and Timaru, said the Minister. APPLICATIONS AT DUNEDIN DUNEDIN, November 25. Within a few days of the announcement last week that applications for enrolment were being called for home building classes, 24 applications had been received at the King Edward Technical College. The college was asked by the Education Department to conduct these classes, for which further applications are expected.