MILLING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26226, 9 August 1946, Page 6

MILLING INDUSTRY

IMPROVING CONDITIONS HOUSING FOR WORKERS I EFFECT ON GENERAL SHORTAGE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. “ One of the most important contributions to the solution of this country's housing problems lies in increased production of timber,” said the Commissioner of State Forests, Mr Skinner, announcing the adoption of the timber industry accommodation improvement scheme, which provides for suitable financial advances from Government funds, to sawmillers for the erection of houses for their workers. “Adequate accommodation must be provided to attract to the milling industry enough men to achieve the necessary increase in production,” Mr Skinner said. “Priority building of houses for these men will not hinder but will stimulate the national housing programme. For each man absorbed by the industry, an additional annual production of 50,000 to 60,000 board feet of timber can be secured. This means that for each house built and each man so attracted into the industry. several additional houses can be built each year thereafter.” Effect of Increased Staffing. The cumulative production of the .1700 additional men needed by the industry would virtually do away with any shortage of timber either for houses or any other purpose, the Minister said. The scheme would not only relieve the present shortage of houses, but would generally improve the standard of accommodation throughout the sawmilling industry, for the Government, in addition to providing loans for the erection of new houses, was prepared also in certain circumstances to advance moneys for the repair of existing accommodation. Submitted to the Government by the Timber Production Advisory Committee, the scheme provides for the erection of houses conforming to a certain standard, which can be moved to another site when the location of the mill is changed. A survey of the sawmilling industry has emphasised the fact that the accommodation problem is acute, not only because of the shortage of houses, but also because of the poor standard of most of the houses already built. The survey, which covered almost 100 per cent of mill housing, revealed that only six per cent, of houses are up to the required standard. To bring the existing accommodation up to standard and to overcome the shortage of accommodation, an estimated total of 1100 more houses will be required to increase the annual timber production to 415,000,000 feet—the figure aimed at for the Government’s reconstruction programme —a further 1700 men are needed. Finance for Scheme The scheme for the improvement of accommodation should make conditions sufficiently attractive to increase the number of workers to the strength required. Current finance will be provided from a pool administered by the State Advances Corporation. This pool will receive all repayments of capital and interest from the millers and, in turn, will make suitable refunds to the State Advances Corporation. Any deficit in the pool will be met hy way of a small levy on all timber. The millers will be compensated in their * turn by an appropriate increase in the selling price. Participation in the scheme will be optional, but sawmillers must exercise their option within a period of three years.