STATE HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 156, 29 March 1938, Page 10

STATE HOUSING

Progress Of Government’s Scheme SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN “Building construction under the Government’s housing scheme is proceeding in 48 towns,” said the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, in an interview yesterday. “Contracts are now being let at the rate of 100 houses a week. If this should be maintained 'the total for the year will be 5200 houses.”

Mr. Lee said that the only obstacle to that achievement would be the lack ,'f skilled builders. Meanwhile the rate of building construction was well over 50 per cent, above .the peak level. The output was being rapidly accelerated. General progress on the construction of private dwellings has been exceptionally good this year throughout New Zealand. The building permit figures, for January last were 437—the highest January figure since 1927. In two of the last four months the building permits had been above those recorded for the corresponding months in the peak years. For example, the returns of permits last October were 492, compared with 475 iu the peak year, 1929, and in January this year the total was 437 as against 370 at the height of the boom.

The latest progress report of State housing for the week ended March 'lB showed that over 8000 persons -were now directly and indirectly employed. More than half of that total were engaged in construction. The number of houses advertised was 2969 and there were 1477 under construction.

Mr. Lee pointed out that in 1932 during the depression the permits for the construction of private dwellings totalled 1555.- Last year the total was 4555—an increase of 3000.