SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18411, 18 May 1920, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF HOUSES.

DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY,

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 17. A deputation from the Carpenters’ and Joiners* Union and other labour bodies interviewed Mr Massey on the shortage of houses. They urged that the exportation of timber should bo prohibited, and that the duty should ho taken off Oregon timber. The speakers estimated that twenty thousand houses were required, two thousand in Wellington alone, and offered to find the necessary labour if the Government would make provision to erect them in three years. They also' suggested that building should be limited to essential works. in. reply, Mr Massey said that if we wanted coal from Australia we must let them have white pine. As it was, timber was only exported under permit. There was a shortage of shipping to bring timber from the West _ Coast. Still more timber was cut during the last twelve months than e\or before, and this showed that there must be a tremendous amount of building going on. The Government already had power to stop unessential building, and Cabinet might deal with it this week. The Government had 210 houses under construction in Wellington, and another 500 wore authorised. Some would he ready in three months- As to the duty on Oregon pine, Cabinet would consider A member of the deputation said this wood would bo very useful, as the timber now being used was worthless and full of sap, and houses would perish in a few years.