BUILDING SUBSIDY

Southland Times, Issue 22153, 23 October 1933, Page 8

BUILDING SUBSIDY

DUNEDIN POST OFFICE ACTION APPRECIATED BY BUILDERS PRINCIPLE OBSERVED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 21. A Wellington builder, a member of the executive of the New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contractors’ Industrial Association of Employers, when approached in reference to the report that the Unemployment Board is granting a subsidy on the cost of erecting the Dunedin Post Office by granting a lump sum subsidy and also the possibility of a similar arrangement being made in relation to the Wellington railway station contract, said that the object of the No. 10 (Building Subsidy) Scheme was to encourage the spending of capital in building and thus create employment by the methods suggested. “The principle is no doubt being fairly observed,” he said. “By this method contractors on such jobs arc not restricted by the conditions relating to the No. 10 Scheme such as a 40-hour week, etc. The granting of a lump sum building subsidy to the Post and Telegraph Department and the Railway Department is highly appreciated by the New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contractors’ Industrial Association of Employers. The Unemployment Board in granting this subsidy without restricting the hours of work is specially commendable and it is believed that the estimated subsidy of 8 per cent, of the amount of the contract is the best method that could be adopted. The New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contractors’ Industrial Association of Employers strongly urges that such a scheme should be made available to private owners to encourage the spending of capital on building work and that all harassing restrictions in relation to working hours and the employment of labour should be withdrawn.”