THE HOUSING SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 4

THE HOUSING SCHEME

UNION'S COMMENT

EFFECT OF CRITICISM

Reference to certain features of the Government housing scheme is contained in the "Borer," the official organ of the Auckland Carpenters' and Joiners' Union. "Now that the first batches of houses- in Wellington have been let by contract, we are able to examine the matter a little further," it is stated. "It would appear that all the rumours that have been going round to the effect that one big contractor was going to get most of the work have been proved correct, and it is-remark-able to note some of the comments in the public newspapers. For instance, we read that the Hutt Valley Builders', Association estimate that if customary methods of tendering had been followed the same houses could have been provided at a reduction of approximately £150 apiece in the cost. On 5000 houses this would mean threequarters of a million pounds. As this statement has been made openly and publicly, we consider that it should be very seriously inquired into. "Another serious point is opened up by a short article which stated that 300 carpenters and joiners .were, applied for through the Wellington Placement Office. It would seem to us that there is a sinister motive behind this, as though it was a deliberate attempt to try to prove a shortage of labour and thus provide an excuse for the importation of men from1 overseas to prevent any possibility of wages rising above the absolute minimum permitted by the Arbitration Court. "Unfortunately, whenever we have attempted any criticism whatever we are told that we are accusing the Government of corruption, or are showing a hatred of the Labour Gov : ernment; while we have not the slightest doubt that if it was another Government, and any one of its subordinates was working^ in a similar manner, any such criticism would be lauded as showing the. acme of good citizenship."