BUILDING TRADESMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 12

BUILDING TRADESMEN

QUEST IN AUSTRALIA REPRESENTATIVE'S MISSION GREAT DEMAND FOR HOUSES [.BY TELEGIUrH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The intention of the Government to send a representative to Australia to select building tradesmen for employment in New Zealand was mentioned by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview this evening. The Government was in touch with Australia, he said, and trying to make arrangements for skilled tradesmen ill tho building trade to come to New Zealand. "The Government has information that tradesmen are available in Australia," said Mr. Savage, "and a representative will be sent there to selectsuitable men. Wo are also getting in touch with the United Kingdom allc * Canada, but, of course, it is not so easy to send someone to those countries to select men. Time is the essence of the contract and we have to move as rapidly as possible. "Thousands of people who want homes are unable to get them, and although the State ho.usii.ig, scheme is going forward steadily in inanv tow ns, the output of dwellings is still far short of the demand. It is impossible to make greater progress in construction owing to the shortage of carpenters and joiners. We must face up W the needs of the people in respect or housing and obtain skilled men fro® overseas in order to accelerate building."