NEW BIG SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 27, 2 February 1943, Page 3

NEW BIG SCHEME

ALMOST READY

HOUSING, BUILDINGS,

ROADS

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

A new organisation to undertake stupendous construction schemes proposed by the Government, particularly in the post-war years and with special relation to housing, has been created and the details would be announced in a few days, said, .the Minister of Public Works \Mt: Semple) this morning. The plan was now almost ready for presentation to Cabinet.

"The long-range plan is more to meet post-war problems, particularly housing," said the Minister. "In relation to rehabilitation, apart from using the services of the Housing Department so far as that aspect is concerned, we are also going to use the services of the Public* Works Department, the Town Planner (Mr. J. W. Mawson), the Commissioner of Defence Construction (Mr. J. Fletcher), and anybody else whose brains and ability, can help the Government with its huge problem."

The post-war programme would involve the construction of about fifty miles of roading a year, complete with services. Advantage would be taken of all current inventions in the nature of pressed steel and plastics, and prefabrication would be used when possible and desirable.

While housing was the biggest single problem, other public buildings and private buildings would also come into the scheme. There would also be road construction, irrigation, land development, and hydro-electric works.