HOUSING SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 10

HOUSING SCHEME

CO-OPERATIVE WORK

MR. LEE'S STATEMENT

Commenting on criticism of the letting of'the Johnsonville housing contract to a: co-operative group, Mr. J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Undersecretary in Charge of Housing, stated today that from the moment of the inception of the Government's housing scheme, repeated and widely-publicised statements had < been made that the Government was prepared to negotiate with any bona fide group of cooperative builders who would undertake'the erection of houses on a cooperative basis. "A glance at the newspaper files would show that these statements have been publicised from end to end of New Zealand," said Mr. Lee. "The Government will be pleased to enlist the support of co-operative groups, and statements have been made even to master builders that if a few care to establish a true co-operative enterprise, the Government would be delighted to negotiate. The Prime Minliter and the- Minister of Housing have authorised me to enter into contracts with any bona flde builder or group of builders who will submit a satisfactory price., In a few days builders will be able to,receive plans and specifications' subject to an assurance that they will:be returned if they desire: ■to^negotiate. ; . ■-'■;:\ '" ■--..' ■ v"lt iriay also be interesting to/state that the Department has repeatedly negotiated contracts wttv builders in towns where no satisfactory tenders have been received, and in places where the lowest tender has exceeded the Government's price. "The co-operative builders are entitled to a chance to show what they can achieve," added Mr. Lee. "The Government is prepared to give the co-operative organisations an opportunity, as past Governments have always been very willing to apply the cooperative principle to other forms of public works. "The Union Construction Company hag been tested on an initial group of five houses at Johnsonville, and reports are so satisfactory that increased contracts have been negotiated. >We, are in.the market for the services of any house builders, co-opera- ,: '.vie or otherwise." ■•■..'.'.