RURAL HOUSING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25157, 21 March 1945, Page 9

RURAL HOUSING

CAUSE or THE DELAYS

REPLY MADE TO MINISTER r A denial of a recent allegation by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Roberts, that the delay in the rural housing programme was due to the disinclination of builders to take country conj tracts, was made yesterday by Mr A. Stephen, president of the Auckland I Master Builders' Association. He added I that builders had been amazed to read I the Minister's statement, as reported in , the press. Mr Stephen stated that the officer in 1 charge of the Housing Construction Department in Auckland approached ; the secretary of his association regarding rural housing in December. The , officer outlined a scheme contemplated , by the department, and stated that he : proposed to supply a chart to the master builders at, frequent intervals, setting out the units required in order of priority, so that the executive of the association could organise the builders available for the work. Although this had been promised in December, no further information had been received from the department. Members of the association had proved during the defence construction period that they were willing to assist in any urgent work when called upon. There seemed to be a tendency in some Government departments to keep master builders in the dark concerning housing schemes until tenders were called, and then they expected builders to drop the work in hand and help them out. If there was any lack of co-opera-tion, as stated in press reports, it was not on the part of the association, but on the part of Government departments. When this was realised by the officials concerned some progress might be made. APPEAL BY FITTER EMPLOYERS' OBJECTIONS "If this man is released from our employment, the largest lathe in Auckland will be stopped, said the manager of a city engineering firm engaged in work on naval and other overseas ships, before the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday, when objecting to the appeal of a litter and turner, G. 10. Scott, to be allowed to terminate his employment. Appellant stated that he was unable to find a house for his wife and child in Auckland and wished to take up employment where he could secure a dwelling. The manager of the firm stated that appellant had been with them for 15 years. He had been trained to overhaul Diesel engines and could not be replaced. The staff was at present working overtime to cope with big jobs on overseas ships, including naval vessels. _ The committee' reserved its decision. MILITARY DISPLAY The military display held at the .Northern District School of Instruction at Narrow Neck, on Saturday by the Auckland school cadets, in connection with the Auckland Returned Services Association queen carnival, resulted in a return of about, C•'!()(),