FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 64, 12 September 1942, Page 8

FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

HOUSES AND FURNITURE

COMPETITIONS TO BE HELD

An important step forward in the Rehabilitation Board's practical plans for housing returned, servicemen is announced by the chairman, Mr. M. Moohan. A competition in designs, open to all British subjects in New Zealand, is to be held without delay. Architects, builders, and engineers naturally will take the most.active interest in this competition, but there is no bar to a layman participating.

Mr. Moohan said that four prizes, were offered in the house section. As the primary object was to design a construction system that would enable houses to be built more rapidly and at less cost than had hitherto been possible, great attention would have to be paid to standardisation, pre-fabrica-tion, and pre-cutting. This did not imply any Joss of structural soundness or aesthetic value, for a condition was that every house should have good proportions, balance, and harmony. There were five auxiliary competitions for which prizes were also offered. These were for the most economical and efficient plumbing system for a four-roomed house; the most economical and efficient system of wiring and disposing light and power points; the best system of pre-cast concrete units; the best system of joinery; and the most suitable and economical design for a set of removable furniture. FURNITURE COMPETITION. The conditions 'covering furniture design were of. special-interest, said Mr. Moohan. They provided for both living-room and bedroom pieces, and all timber had to be New Zealand, with 'all other materials of Dominion manufacture as far as possible. The design was required to be of pleasing appear,ance, sufficiently strong to. stand the average wear and tear of a home, and suitable for mass production. Special prizes were offered for .a child's cot and child's high chair, with' which it was proposed to equip these houses. The assessors would be a body unique in New Zealand, added Mr. Moohan. For the first time both employers and employees would sit together to adjudicate, thus linking ' administrative and practical experience. There would be expert architects and engineers, two housewives, and the representatives of the trades involved, so that a thoroughly competent opinion could be obtained. ■ -