STATE HOUSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1939, Page 10

STATE HOUSES

TRADESMEN FROM OVERSEAS. [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, January 20. Although the demand for houses is not as great in the South Island as m the North Island, there was a clamour for homes there, said the Minister for Housing, lion. H. T. Arm--1 strong, when he returned from a survey of State housing activities in the I south. The need for more skilled labour was acute, and there was also la great need for more plant for kiluI drying of timber. As Minister for Immigration lie was investigating the- possibility of bringing more tradesmen from overseas, and action had already been taken to go into the whole question of the resumption of an immigration scheme. For certain classes of work such as brick veneer, and concreting, many builders hud great success in training young men. Some of these had become quite proficient in a short time. "Although the number of men engaged has been substantially increased during (he last year, we are building more houses and censequeniiy it takes longer to build a- cottage. There -■ii.turilly are- less men a bouse available. it is absolutely essentia! for us to Bice (he idea that we must secure an additional number of skilled workers if we arc to make- up the leeway. "Another problem that will have to be solved is the securing of a suffi<ieiis quantity of seasoned timber for housing needs. Sawmillers can sei! their timber right off the saw. s> ’hey say ‘why should we worry”? That is not much good to builders. Thera an- not enough kilns in New Zealand io •.-srsoii limber required.”