Prime Minister

Grey River Argus, 31 March 1939, Page 8

Prime Minister

ON HOUSING RESPONSIBILITIES,

WELLINGTON, March 28.

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon

M. J. Savage), referring this evening to a suggestion by the Leader of Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton that the hours of work in the building industry be extended to 44 a week to relieve the housing situation said:

“The Government realises its housing obligations,’’ said Mr Savage. “We have a better organisation that has ever existed in the history of this country. We are not satisfied any more than Mr Hamilton is. with the number of houses built. The Gov-

ernment has made tremendous pro- ’ gress in providing homes for people, t but not enough to overtake arrears. v “Perhaps Mr Hamilton can search = his own conscience and see what part t he and his colleagues have played in ® this connexion. There are arrears in t every class of building, including schools and teachers’ residences. s What can be more Important than ® the provision of these, for schools and I teachers’ residences come a good sec- ‘ ond in importance after dwellings. * Public buildings have also been al- ' lowed to fall into arrears to such an extent that we have not enough of . them for the country’s requirements.”

Mr Savage said that in order to . speed up building construction the Government had had no alternative I but to go to other lands to obtain , men. It was not possible to train, men . fast enough to overtake the arrears. It was worth while asking Mr Hamilton what part he and others associated with him had played in bringing about the present state of affairs. “Mr Hamilton seems to be worried more about increasing the hours of labour than anything else,” said Mr Savage. “Well, we are not going to increase the hours of labour. Under abnormal conditions we will make the best arrangements possible. The men engaged on the construction of the Social Security building agreed to work under certain, conditions because of the special circumstances that prevailed. ' 1 “To think about taking advantage of the present situation to increase the hours of labour is to think about something that is not going to happen.”