STATE HOUSE-BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17755, 14 April 1921, Page 4

STATE HOUSE-BUILDING.

RESULTS IN 17 MONTHS.

TOTAL OF 78 COMPLETED.

MINISTER HOPES FOR INCREASE. [Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBBESPOJTDENT.J ■WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A return prepared by the Housing Department shows that since the inception of the Government house-building scheme, in November, 1919, 1011 houses have been authorised, 382 have been contracted for, 78 have been completed, and SO are now nearing completion. The figures for some of the centres are as follows : —

During the week ended April 4. four houses were completed, three in Wellington and one in New Plymouth. The operations of the Housing Department it should be understood, are distinct from the workers' dwelling and advances to workers schemes. The Minister for Labour lately has been encouraging the building of homes under the advances system, and something has been done in this direction to relieve the housing shortage. The Hon. G. J. Anderson mentioned to-day that he was taking steps to hasten the work of the Housing Department. He recognised that many difficulties had been encountered in the inception of 'the scheme, but he desired that the output of completed houses should be materially increased.

ConAuthor- tracts Com- Comi6rd. let. pleted. pleting. Wellington . . 300 152 48 15 Auckland . . 150 15 5 4 Christchurch .. 86 86 3 6 Dunedin . . 50 1 1 — Napier . . 30 12 2 2