GOVERNMENT HOUSING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 10

GOVERNMENT HOUSING

COMMITMENTS TOTAL £4,000.000 EMPLOYMENT FOR 9000 PERSONS STATEMENT BY MR J. A. LEE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 19. A statement that the tola! commitments to date under the Government’s Housing Scheme, including land and housing, amounted to £4.000,000, was made this evening by the Parliamentary Under-secretary in Charge of Housing (Mr J. A. Lee). He said that a start was made with the organising in September, 1936, and the first contracts were signed in March, 1937. The progress since then had been noteworthy. “Land for State housing has been acquired in 83 towns,” Mr Lee said. “ Tenders have been called for 3777 houses, and there are houses occupied in no iewor than 20 towns. The average number of houses in each contract is five. The housing construction department has at present 153 different contracting firms at work or just commencing work, and, in addition, double that number of firms are probably engaged as sub-contractors. The total number of persons directly engaged on housing construction and associated works is 4582, and probably at least 9164 persons in all are directly deriving employment as the result of the operations of (he department. These people are in turn employing retailers, manufacturers, etc.”