RECORD TOTAL OF STATE HOMES BUILT LAST YEAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22914, 5 April 1949, Page 6

RECORD TOTAL OF STATE HOMES BUILT LAST YEAR

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON, April 5

A further record in State house construction during the year ended March 31, 1949 was reported last evening by the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple.

He said that in the 12 months a total of 4193 new house units had been completed by the housing construction division of the Ministry of Works and handed over for occupation. The previous highest total lor any year was 3966 achieved in 1940-41, while the previous year’s figure of 3210 had been exceeded by 983 units.

The Minister said that, in addition, there were 430 homes built by other State departments, making in all 4623 homes actually provided by the State in the last financial year. The past year’s figures for the housing division were for homes only and did not take into account many ancillary types of buildings required foi land settlement, such as milking sheds, implement sheds, woolsheds and also shops community buildings and hostels.

Homes for 4623 Families

The effect of the past year’s achievement was that the State had directly provided good homes for 4623 families or approximately 18,500 people who otherwise might still be living in bad circumstances.

Officers of the housing division had done a good job of work. They had to overcome many difficulties in the way of labour and material shortages, and the splendid result was all the more credit to them. Without the continued co-operation of builders and contractors and their employees, it would not have been possible to have provided so many homes. He wished to thank them for their help. Had it not been for the recent building dispute in Auckland it was estimated that 50 additional houses would have been completed. This dispute also meant that 120 houses which should have been under construction had not been started. The Government would, continue to build homes to the full extent of reserves available and it was the Government’s firm resolve to do so until such time as all the people in New Zealand were satisfactorily housed,