THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10660, 5 August 1920, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME

%■ BUILDINGS NEARING COMPLETION. The tardy progress being made with the Government's housing scheme sinco Parliament, towards the end ol last session, authorised a considerable expenditure upon the erection of dwellings has been a subject of some comment recently. A prompt commencement -was made upon the work, but difficulties occasioned by shortage of cement, timber, and other essential building material cropped up, with tho result that the completion pf tho first batch of houses has been greatly protracted. The first batch of six houses at Miramar is now nearing completion, and is out of the hands of the contractors. In the course of about three weeks, providing the necessary materials for the finishing off process is able to be secured, they will; be entirely completed. Other homes are in various stages of advancement, and will be finished in batches from time to time. As soon as the first lot is dealt with, attention will be turned to a further batch of about fourteer which the builders have almost completed. The allocation of money made last session'for expenditure in Wellington provided for a total of 139 houses; a total of 293 dwellings are being built in various parts of tlie Dominion under the Government's scheme; build-. ing is taking place in and around the principal townships whore congestion exists, including the four principal cities, I'almerston North, Hawera, J>ew Plymouth, Masterton, Nelson, anc Oamaru.

The erection of the houses at Miramar is being nroeeeded with by labour employed by tho department, and more satisfactory progress is _ now being made since supplies of building materials are obtainable more readily than previously. Cement, bricks, and timber, which have held up work, considerably, are coming to hand more promisingly, and accordingly better progress is being made. Tenders have been called for tlie erection of a further 266 houses, and further contracts will bo let for another-500 workers' dwellings in .the course _of a F ew weeks, as soon as preliminary arrangements are completed by the Labour Department.