WORK OF HOUSING COUNCIL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 7

WORK OF HOUSING COUNCIL

Good Progress Seen By Minister

“NOT SATISFIED YET” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 3. “We are getting along the road, and we are making good progress, but I am not satisfied yet, ’ the Minister of Housing (Mr W. Sullivan) said tonight in a review of today’s meeting of the executive committee of the National Housing Council. Mr Sullivan said the committee had wide representation and all of its members were closely associated with the building and construction industry. The present representation had been widened further to include the subtrades. “Today’s meeting made it abundantly clear that there is a great desire to assist in every way possible so that the housing shortage can be overcome,” Mr Sullivan said. “It was natural there should be much discussion on costs.” He said the committee wisely decided to set up a sub-committee representative of all manufacturers and timber merchants in industries related to building and construction. The subcommittee’s main task would be to report on supply trends, so that in case of a shortage of any materials steps could be taken early to meet any threats.

Mr Sullivan -considered that one of the important contributions to the meeting was the submission of a report from the Department of Labour on the building trade labour force. The analysis showed that in 1921 27 persons m every 1000 were entirely engaged in building and construction. By 1951 the figure had risen to 32 in every 1000, which was almost equal to the 1926 figure of 33 in every 1000. Another report recorded a big increase in apprenticeship contracts in the building trade. “Forty-five per cent, of all these contracts were in the building trade, and this is again another factor which is helping to overcome the housing shortage,” said Mr Sullivan.