HOUSING SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 10

HOUSING SCHEME

FACTORY CONTRACT BUILDING AT KAIWARRA TENDER ACCEPTED Though an official announcement has not yet been made, it is understood that the Fletcher. Construction Company are the successful tenderers for the erection of the big factory which is to be erected at Kaiwarra for the manufacture of joinery and other fittings and finishings required in connection with the Government's plans for large-scale housing schemes. The amount of .the contract is not known, but it is probable that it exceeds £IO,OOO. The site is an area fronting the Hutt Road, just to the north of the Ballinger factory, on land recently reclaimed by the Railway Department, lying between the Hutt Valley lines and the roadway, and will thus have both road and rail access. Auckland is also to have a housing factory on much the same scale, and here again, it is understood, the Fletcher Construction Company are the successful tenderers. SCHEME CRITICISED LOWER HUTT ATTITUDE "It is apparent from anonymous correspondence in your journal that the position concerning the Government housing proposals needs clarifying," remarked Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt, in a statement made to "The Post" today. "From the building industry's point of view I am satisfied that the Government has bungled badly, and dur-1 ing the past 24 hours I have received representations concerning eight houses, the erection of which three local builders Jiave lost, as a result of replies from a Government Department that the Government would be able to supply the clients with' houses in a very short time. These' complaints are not from avowed opponents of the present Government, but in at least two cases are fsom persons who were keen .supporters of the Labour Party at the last election. . There are still ringing in their ears the words of the Prime Minister, 'You have nothing to fear.' . "In your issue of yesterday, a correspondent, 'Chips,' makes some statements that call for a reply. I am sure the Minister will be interested in his ■ observation that carpenters are as scarce as houses, and that higher wages have been paid to obtain their services. The effect of this phenomenon on the cost of the 'Government's scheme has been forecast by those in the industry.' But in actual fact I have had more inquiries for'jobs from unemployed carpenters and joiners within the last week than in any period during the past eighteen months. "Your correspondent says that 'the rates question has I sen .definitely settled by the statement of the Minister of Finance.' I am particularly interested in that statement: As trustee for the ratepayers of Lower Hutt, I have directed questions to the Minister, and have not yet had the reply_._'Chips' refers to. ' '' . "Your readers should know that the ratepayers of this borough have been called upon to find during the past three years over £17,000 in respect of "*■ rates on Government houses," and any addition to this burden must be sffenuously guarded against. QUESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT. "The following questions arise out of the Government's proposals, and each warrants an affirmative or negative reply:—

1. Will the Government pay all building permit and drainage fees? * 2. Will they conform to our townplanning scheme? . 3. Will they comply with our bylaws?

4. Will they accept ordinary mortgage liability for rates? , "The* Minister has been asked these questions verbally and in writing, and no reply has been received by us. "Any statement that full rates will be paid when houses, are let at ordinary rentals leaves the ratepayers of this borough, in a most unfair position, as we neither fix the rentals nor control the economic conditions. "I might add that the Government's scheme has never been before the council, and that we have not been taken into the Government's confidence on the proposals at all. We have not even been officially advised that the Government proposes to have erected a huge number of houses in. Lower Hutt. But we are anxious to see that, if the Department does have houses erected, the ratepayers living •next door are not-asked to*pay for the services supplied to those houses, and, in times of stress, to also pay the rates'owing ton the properties. "Your correspondent's suggestion that the Mayor condemns the Government in general is not really worthy of reply. Has he forgotten the fight I put up when Mr. Coates was Minister of Finance, and at the Christchurch Municipal Conference, when the Hon. D. G. Sullivan presided, and does he not remember the support I then received from members of' the present Government?"

HOUSING AT LOWER BUTT (To the Editor.) Sir,—l would like to continue further the discussion on the above by replying to "Chips." As one who has employed a large number of carpenters during the past eighteen months I think I am in a position to state that if houses were as plentiful as carpenters there would definitely be no shortage. I agree that there is an acute shortage of houses at the present time, but this is only brought about by very few houses being built during the past four or five years. Two years ago there were many empty houses in the Hutt, and they could not be let even at a very low rental. This shortage could soon be overcome if the Department'would lend a reasonable margin. That is all my prospective clients are requiring. Secondly, the quality of the houses is as stated no better than elsewhere, and in a lot of cases not as good, but the bylaws call for a much better construction than any other borough or city. The quality depends partly upon the qualifications of the tradesmen. Thirdly, the Mayor is right;' men. are being put out of work at the present time as there is not the work to proceed with. Du;;ing the past eighteen months I have had at least five jobs all the lime and that many ahead, now I have one more to start. I had to stand fiv.e down last week. As for having to pay higher wages for their services, no one minds paying high wages, but the service must also be of ,a high standard. In conclusion, the houses are wanted, but certainly not in mass production, which only has one result: 2s 6Jd

this month, relief the next. The competition in the Hutt is sufficient for any 300 houses to be built in twelve months. As stated by the Mayor there are at present approximately 60 builders in the Valley; surely that is sufficient to cope with 300 , houses.During the past five,years some ofiUS have managed to hold our businesses together after a struggle, and now it appears that the big man is going to reap the benefits of mass production. If the house builders' representatives were consulted by the Government in this plan I think we would be of more practical help than any big firm. All I ask is that the Housing Committee igive us a trial at this building scheme and with consideration we could produce these houses as cheaply and also save needless expenditure in joinery plant, etc.—-I am, etc., BUILDER.