RURAL HOUSING DELAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 4

RURAL HOUSING DELAY

MINISTER'S STATEMENT CHALLENGED

BUILDERS NOT TO BLAME (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Mar. 20. The statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr B. Roberts, that the delay in the rural housing programme was due to the disinclination of builders to take country contracts was stiongly rebutted by Mr A. Stephen, president of the Master Builders’ Association. in a statement this morning.

Mr Stephen said the officer in charge of the State Housing Department in Auckland got into touch with the secretary of the Master Builders’ Association regarding rural housing in December last. The officer outlined the scheme that the department was contemplating, and stated that he proposed to supply a chart to the master builders’ office 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.

“This was promised in December, 1944,” said Mr Stephen, “ and so far we have received no further information from the State Housing Department. We were amazed, therefore, to read the statement that the builders would not co-operate, as we consider that the members of the Master Builders’ Association proved during the- defence period that they are wilting to assist in any urgent work when called upon,” There seemed to be a tendency in some Government departments, said Mr Stephen, to keep the master builders in the dark concerning housing schemes until tenders were called, and then they expected the builders to drop the work in hand arid help them out. If there was any lack of cooperation, as was stated in the reports, it was not on the part of the Master Builders' Association, but on the part of the Government departments. When this was realised by the officials concerned some progress might be made.