HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 7

HOUSING PROBLEM

Sir,—A great deal of publicity haa, rightly, been given to housing proposals by the so-called "Big Four,' which would he bettor termed the "Big Bluff." Generally speaking, the builders treated these proposals aa a huge joke, and place mere confidence in the Government than to think of them accepting such a ■ 6cheme. I claim that tho plan is unbusinesslike, and certainly not oooperative so as to benefit the worker. Nov, Sir, Mr. James Fletcher, ono of tho Big Four concerned, makes statements to which I take exception. His obvious patronage of the smaller builders is not appreciated, and. I wish to put the case from tho view-point of thes# smaller builders who havo carried ou. their business for many years with success. It is due to the public that they 6liould know something of the other side, and certainly due to builders outside' tho Big Four. . _ The scheme suggested l>y the Big Four proposes: ~ (1) To build 500 houses in 12 months. (2) The Federation of Labour to supply all labour. (3) The four builders to supply the necessary plant. u) 'Wages to bo 2s. 9d. per hour for skilled and 2s. for unskilled labour . . . dining-room conveniences to be provided. (5) Government to employ an account-, ant, and find the whole of the .capital required, pay all wages and account*) promptly. '. (0) Pay tho Big Four 2i per tent, on 500 bouses at, say, -21000 each . . . but if the houses cost ,£I2OO each it would «>• pear that tho same basis will exist. (7) Pay the Federation of Labour 2} per cent, on 5.00 houses at, eay, .-61000 each. , . To deal with theso proposals m, sequence. „ , ~ • (1) The greatest number of houses th« Big Four would be able to build within. 12 months would be, 6&y, 300. Therei i* ample proof of lack of progress in other, directions. All this talk about plant, and supplying materials, is so much bluff, as smaller buildere who specialise in house-building are better equipped and Qualified for this class of work than are any of the large firms already mentioned. The markets are open to all, and most of us buy to the best advanlas) Is 'the Federation «f Labour representative of Labour? The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners refuse to associate themselves with tnis extraordinary proposal. • • (3) Tho question of plant resolves itself into a question of ono firm having * splendid plant for prepanng and hand-, ling materials, and has been the means largely of developing tho building stone resources of tho country, for which theyn,re to bo commended. Otherwise, Sir, I emphatically state-that many, other builders carrying on at present in this citv have plant and facilities equal to and better than that held by the Big Four. . , . , (4) The rate cf wages suggested ib being paid at present in the city. . . . Din-ing-room convenience is provided for in the existing awards. _ (5) Tho Government is quite capable ot doing this work without tho assistance of the Big Four— exclusively. . (G) Five hundred houses at, Wi £1009 equal <£500,000 (half, a million pounds). What sen-ice is the Big l'our to render for tho .£12,500 they aro to receive for the 21 per cent, interest on iSOO.Owr (7) Why should thd Federation of Labour receive ,£12,500, and what is to tecome of this sum at a later period? Apparently the individual, worker under these proposals is to receive no share- of %ie P n,° too, Sir, Mr. Fletcher speaks of the ,£50,000 60-called capital, ims'is probably where the slice pinches most.) I would ask Mr. Fletcher where lie expects to get labour to erect houses when, they cannot get labour and lnatenals to earrv on the great : number oi contracts already undertaken. Tho employees of other builders will not because they are working under better conditions than those suggested. Whatever the ' other builders may or rn.iv not think of the proposals put forward, they all agree that the towing problem :s. not a joke, and ljo out that it should not be any great diff-culty-to organise a comprehensive minding campaign t'lroughout tho Dominion. If the suggestion put forward by Colonel . Mitchell,- M.P., in the House some time ago was given effect to, namely, that o Housing Minister be, appointed to organise a national scheme, safeguarding the Government and tho employer gj possible rise in wages and materials, and, above all, giving the worker a share in the profits of tho entornrise then, Sir, the housing problem would 'be but an unpleasant memory within a. very short tiiuo# Under such a comprehensive scheme, the "Bi" Foui-" could each get a number of houses to tender for and build, which there would bo a reasonable hope of their finishing in a reasonable tune, on he s me as would Wtendei to other builders. This would mean, the mpid production of houses, real houses,, SJfc houses in the etc^ August G, 1920*