HOUSING SCHEME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 27 November 1936, Page 8

HOUSING SCHEME

GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 27. Plans and quantities for the building of about 400 houses in Hutt and Miramar as part of the Government’s housing scheme will be completed by the end of this month. It is hoped to have an advertisement in the Press or New Zealand by December 7 or cember 10, calling for tenders. From some time in February, it is officially predicted, there should be no unemployment among building craftsmen in Wellington. A statement about the Government s housing plans V'as made yesterday by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). Mr Savage said: “Since the tendering for the building of the houses will be let in groups of 20, and since contractors will require to make out about 140 sheets or material in connection with each group of 20, or between two and three thousand sheets for the whole job, the tenders will close on January 5. \ve could close the tenders on December 24, but nothing would be gamed by not giving contractors until the first day after the holidays. i “Contractors will probably commence building in Wellington some time in February, and although the period for the first contract will be 10 months, additional contracts will be let to run coincidentally with the From some time in February there should be no unemployment among building craftsmen in Wellington. , .... “Negotiations have been entered into for the purpose of supplying the requirements of contractors with such things as electric stoves, ,gas stoves, plaster wallboard, bricks, concrete, and other tiling, etc., and an immediate fillip will be given to local budding mdustry. t “As regards the projected housing scheme on State land at Orakei, Auckland, advertisements have been inserted this week in the Auckland Press, and we hope to let a small drainage contract in Auckland in the course of a few days. Land will be available at Orakei, with the drainage contract let, for about 316 houses. Other areas are being made available for use at the same time. “The contour of the Auckland country necessitates fresh sheets of quantities being prepared for each Auckland basement and fiesh drainage plans, but by the end of January or the beginning of February a contract will be let for anything from 200 to 400 houses in Auckland; and fiom that moment there should be no unemplojment among building labour. “Some weeks after this we should be able to let a contract in Christchurch, find one in Dunedin. ______ OVERTAKING UNEMPLOYMENT. “At some tinie in March unemployment umong building labour in the lorn main centres should be overtaken completely. Industries supplying the ieouirements of the New Zealand housing scheme, such as stove manufacturers, tile manufacturers brick manufacturers, timber merchants, joinery, transport, will be in full swing. “In practically every secondary town in New Zealand the Lands Department has been asked to recommend suitable areas for housing purposes, and in every important town we hope to have a scheme going as soon as Possible, in Palmerston North we are alr f ad 7 ing steps to acquire two educational areas Many of the areas to be acquired will require roading and draining. “Our purpose will be to let contracts for fairly long periods and [ e * { tional contracts as the amount of Hour makes such possible. In con iunction with the Native Affairs Department, a committee is investigating the rehabilitation in suitable areas of large sections of the Maori population and money will be available from the Ministry of Housing for Maori housing as required by the Minister in charge of Native Affairs. “Local bodies have started to interest themselves in the offer of the Go - eminent of money at 3 per cent. Inquiries from Dargaville the Opunake Power Board, Raglan Town Board Westport Borough Council Kaikoura Borough, and from Alexandra, lead mo to believe that before the year is far gone there will he a very large number % schemes of building conducted by local bodies among whom the scheme * S “In*conclusion, I would say that by the end of March the available bulining labour and the incidental general labour necessary and all the manufacturers who make material for housing, will be moving as never before m New Zealand,’’ Mr Savage said.