STATE HOUSING

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 12

STATE HOUSING

HUTT BUILDERS PROTEST

EFFECT ON EMPLOYMENT

The Hutt Valley branch of the Wellington Builders' Association in the course of a statement made to a "Post" representative by the secretary voices the opinion that the proposed State building scheme is having an adverse effect on employment in the Hutt Valley.

The association states that it has approached the Government concerning the proposals, with most unsatisfactory results from the association's point of View, and that the Government either did not know'what it had in its mind or would not say. This was having a very unsteady effect and had destroyed public' confidence. This was clearly shown in the reduction in permits for cottages since the preliminary announcement by the responsible head of the Housing Department. In July (a winter month and usually a slack one) there were 15 permits and in August 18. In September and October, after the Government announcement, the numbers of permits issued were 8 and 9 respectively.

The i-esult of this was a reduction in the staffs of local builders, and this was not normal or .healthy for this time of the year. This enforced slump would be followed by a boom when the 300 cottages were commenced, to be succeeded in turn by a further upheaval when things returned to normal. In reality what the Government thought was giving a fillip to industry had the reverse effect. -

The builders, stated the secretary, agreed, that there is a demand -for houses in Lower Hutt. They trust the demand will continue and pledge themselves to meet it. . ■

Speaking of the Government factory, said the secretary, the builders would say definitely that, if the output was noc 4000 houses per annum, the scheme was over-capitalised, and if it was over- 4000, a glut would be created.