STATE HOUSING
Temporary Suspension Of Contracts DEFENCE NEEDS FIRST “All Housing Department contracts arc being suspended rather than terminated,” said the Minister of Housing and Public Works, Mr. Armstrong, when discussing the defence building programme and the effect of it on the housing situation in an interview last night. He added that contractors were being paid in full for the work done except for a retention of 5-per cent., the object being that they and their men could be readily reinstated in jobs as soon as the defence work was completed or if for any reason there was likely to be any loss of time between the completion of one job and the commencement of the next. ‘‘Only in special circumstances ami at the particular request of a contractor have contracts been terminated.” said Mr. Armstrong. “For instance, one or two contractors who have a number of house units to build have their staffs so depleted by tlie draw-off for the armed forces that they have asked to be relieved of the ones on which work has not been commenced.
“Whatever the outcome of the present situation, the people can be assured that next to the war effort, the building of homes is regarded as the next essential by the Government, and the State housing programme will be pursued with all possible vigour as soon as the way is clear.” The Minister said he had nothing but the greatest praise for the way in which the building industry had risen to the occasion and the helpful attitude of merchants and manufacturers, particularly those whose normal business was upset and in some cases seriously affected by tlie change-over. The builders and all employees had co-operated most readily and tlie result was satisfactory. Many of the commodities that were used in tlie more permanent types of buildings were not required for temporary defence buildings.
As at -present viewed the defence building programme should not take a particularly long time to complete, said Mr. Armstrong, but this could only be decided by the progress of the wa r.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 171, 16 April 1942, Page 6
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345STATE HOUSING Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 171, 16 April 1942, Page 6
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