BUILDING PERMITS

Grey River Argus, 23 January 1943, Page 1

BUILDING PERMITS

Local Controllers

GIVEN DISCRETION TO ISSUE THEM-

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 22. Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister or. Supply and Munitions, to-day referred to building permits, and he made an explanation regarding various contradictory statements which have been published in the press throughout the Dominion during the past few days. The Minister stated that it had been found necessary to curtail the issue of building permits,to allow more mon to be concentrated on defence work, particularly in Auckland and in Wellington. These drastic, restrictions could not. of course, be lifted until the defence building commitments had been, complei cd. The Minister stated, nowever. that the circumstances in individual districts varied considerably. The District Building Controllers, therefore, will use their discretion and will release building permits for the most urgent and essential private work, as and when general circumstances allow such action to be taken

Referring to housing, Mr Sullivan stated that the Government fully appreciated the acute shortage which ex'sted in the Dominion at the present time and it was fuhy alive to its responsibilities to the men who were returning, or who had already returned to tne Donrnion from service overseas. Defence construction, however, must be given every preference both in respect to men and materials, and it was the Governments' intention that housing should be prosecuted with the utmost vigor as soon ns the men could ho released from defence const ruction

Mr Sullivan added that, although the ultimate aim in the immediate post-war period was the construction of 16,001) houses per vear, the amount of work which could be done during the war period will depend on the material and the manpower iesources.