REPLY TO MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 5

REPLY TO MINISTER

Distribution Of State Housing Contracts

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. Total applications were not of the same importance in assessing, the need for State houses as the number of those applicants classified as urgent, said the mayor of Christchurch, Sir. Andrews, replying today to the statement on. the distribution of State housing contracts made by the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple. "Air. Semple quotes figures showing the number of applications for State houses in Christchurch; and Wellington,” said the mayor. “In Wellington there were 8861 applicants and in Christchurch there were 2189. I do not attach much importance to the actual number of applicants, many of whom are already well and comfortably housed. The Minister has missed the kernel of mv argument and that was the number of applicants who were listed as urgent cases. I pointed out that 50 p6r cent, of the Christchurch applicants were in this class, whereas Wellington had 30 per cent. only. “Wellington has apparently suffered at the expense of Auckland in State house building, for while the increase in population for each of these two cities over the five years ended 1942 has been about 6000, Auckland has received 5551 State houses to Welljntgou’s 3001 in the same period, or 52 per cent, for Auckland and 29 per cent, for Wellington." . The mayor said he had received telegrams from southern mayors offering their support for any action which might be taken to prevent a further transfer of building tradesmen and to obtain more housing construction for the South Island.

DUNEDIN PROTEST Transfer Of Labour To North Island . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 10. The case against the recruitment of labour in Dunedin for building houses in Wellington was placed before the mayor, Mr. Allen, by a deputation representative of the building trade arid citizens today. The mayor later sent the following telegram to the Minister of Housing Construction, Mr. Semple: “I have been waited on by a deputation representing the Builders’ Association, the Institute of Architects, and influential citizens, urging that I should lodge with you their protest against the compulsory transference from Dunedin to the North Island of tradesmen essential to the building industry. The erection of an undue proportion of State houses in the North Island is retarding the erection of necessary homes here and must ultimately result in further development of the North Island at the expense of tbe South,

“Evidence is accumulating that many men sent to the North Island were kept there permanently, thereby accentuating the constant process of encouraging northern development at the expense of the south. I join with the deputation in firmlj’ protesting and urge that our tradesmen be retained here for the erection of necessary homes for our people and the construction of buildings of national importance.” As. a result of another deputation, the rna y° r has sent a protest to the Minister of Manpower, Mr. McLagan, against women being sent from Duuedin to work in northern centres. This emphasized the seriousness of the local labour situation and the results which would occur if women in the latest age groups to register were sent from their present employment and homes.