A HOUSE IN FIVE DAYS

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 6

A HOUSE IN FIVE DAYS

PREFABRICATION SCHEME. NEW PLYMOUTH. March 16. Prefabrication of houses in New Zealand Jias passed the experimental stage, and everything is ready to erect dwellings on the mass-produc-tion scale once men and materials are available. Taranaki has played a’ big part in achieving the object, for the first factory is situated at New Plymouth and 20 houses are already being erected at Tatu. Not only does prefabrication, enable a large number of houses to be erected in a short time, but the system has been so designed that labourcon be quickly absorbed and after only a few months’ training take a valuable and necessary part in the processes of construction, whereas under the old system a carpenter had to spend five years learning his trade before he was considered capable of building ia house It is claimed that the finished product will stand comparison with any similar house erected board by board. So, it is forecast, houses will be put up in their hundreds daily, and New Zealand’s homeless will be accommodated with the utmost speed. To-day a house leaves the factory in 35 sections, all complete to the last detail, and these components are assembled on the foundation in 'three days, are given the final coat of paint on the fourth day, and are ready to be lived in on 'the fifth. The usual time for building a house of the same size would be three weeks.

Inspection of a' house in the course of erection or completed reveals a dwelling that in appearance and finish bears comparison with any simi-lar-sized house in the country. The speed and efficiency of the erection system is also apparent, and Govern • ment supervision allows no shoddy workmanship.