SUBSIDISED BUILDING

Evening Star, Issue 21991, 29 March 1935, Page 13

SUBSIDISED BUILDING

SCOPE OF SCHEME EXTENDED GOOD MEASURE OF SUCCESS fPsR Ukixbd Pb*«s Association.] WELLINGTON, March 28. Encouraged by the results of the review which has been made of the ettects of the subsidised building schemes, the Unemployment Board has decided on certain extensions to the scope ot the scheme. . • , In announcing the decision or the board, tire Acting Minister of Employment (Sir Alexander Young) said that the building schemes bad proved very successful measures for creating a demand for the services of unemployed tradesmen in their own calling. One of the factors which contributed very largely to this success Was the fact that the assistance given to the building trade stimulated employment far beyond the tradesmen actually engaged m tho erection of buildings. There were about twenty-eight related trades and occupations which were stimulated or depressed by the recovery or retardation in building operations. The results up to the present of the No. 12 house building scheme indicated the far-reaching effects of the building operations brought about by the scheme, as for 3,079 new dwellings which had been authorised, 3,061 baths, 766 electric stoves, and 789 gas stoves were being supplied by New Zealand manufacturers, besides numerous smaller articles and materials, in the manufacture and supply of which considerable employment had been created by the erection of these houses alone. It was estimated that some 15,000 men actually engaged on dwellings had been provided with work for varying periods, fri addition to which there had been a much larger number employed in the related trades and occupations. The general position in regard to the housing shortage had been carefully surveyed by the Unemiployiuent Board, and from information gained it was considered that to-day there was a healthy demand for new houses, thus indicating that there was still considerable scope for the investment of capital in house building, with the consequential employment that would be created. , , , , The Unemployment Board had also been ascertaining the effect that the house building subsidy scheme had had on the trades concerned. The figures were now complete, and it had been found that, although the building trade was showing definite signs of revival, there was still work to bo done. With the object of assisting further employment, tho board had decided for a period to extend the present building scheme by subsidising the alteration to and/or the painting of dwelling houses and residential flats. Consideration would also be given to such work on churches, public halls, libraries, and other non-profit-earning buildings. It was confidently expected that this would result in the creation of a great deal of work, with a consequent effect on the registration figures.