HOUSING.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 8

HOUSING.

A CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME

NATIONAL PROPOSALS.

[Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. Additional particulars relating to the co-operative housing scheme snooted by four1 bis; contracting firms in Wellington indicate that the proposals are national in their scope. The idea suggested to the Government is that all building, with the exception of the erection of house?, schools, and hospitals, shall cea_se tor a period of twelve months, during which time all contractors m the Dominion shall concentrate on housing. A special board shall control all building material. The scheme will be extended to any centre where houses are needed. . The provision oiS the necessary materials for a. large number of houses _ has already been guaranteed by British firms. ! .'

Mr James Fletcher, managing -director of Fletcher Bros., said to a ''reporter: "We are in a position to import direct, so as to effect a eon r siderable saving. We say positively that our scheme spells economy as far as the Government is concerned, for we propose to eliminate the middlemen, of whom there are several. Should the Government O.K. our scheme we would not be able to ' commence operations for six or seven nonths, and that .would give the contractors an opportunity to clean up iiny work in hand, although it is not suggested that all contracts would be finished by then. I am prepared to give my services to the Government to organise the scheme and place it en a proper working basis.'"' Mr Fletcher estimated that 2400 houses were needed, involving an expenditure of £2,000,000. ' It would be necessary for the Government to finance the "scheme. The only charge against the scheme Avould be 2£ per cent, to the contractors and two liouies out of 2100 erected would be allocated to the.Building Trades Federation to be held in trust for the use of such members of the organisation as were suffering from old age or in-capacity-or for the widows of members.' These houses could never be gold.

■' The Government has not yet endorsed the schenfe.