MEETING ALL NEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1938, Page 10

MEETING ALL NEEDS

HOUSING PROGRESS

STATEMENT BY MR. SAVAGE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

"Now that the Department of Housing Construction is in full swing and producing a type of dwelling suitable for a person of average income and an average-sized family attention is being given to special housing for other sections of the community," said the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) this morning. "The provision of bachelor flats for single people working in cities is being considered. Plans for the first block to be erected at Wellington are being prepared. The first trial block of four fiats, suitable for pensioners and aged couples, is.almost completed in Auckland.

"For families of unusual size designs of larger houses are under way, a special house of this nature having been erected for the quadruplet family at Dunedin.

"Finally there is the problem of a cheaper type of house for the lowest income group to be rented at a figure lower than the average rents now being charged. Two trial houses of this nature are nearing completion at Wellington. Later will come the clearance of slums and their replacement by mul-tiple-unit dwellings. This problem needs special legislation .and cannot be attacked until the acuteness of the present housing shortage has been reduced."

Mr. Savage said that completed I houses were now coming to hand at the rate of sixty 'a week. The Department's operations were so extensive that. there were serious difficulties in obtaining sufficient skilledlabour and materials. It appeared j doubtful whether the present resources of the Dominion could produce 100 aj week for the Department additional to the normal requirements of private enterprise and other State Departments.

The Prime Minister added that 172 general contractors were working for the Department and 4800 persons were directly employed.