BUILDING OF HOUSES

Southland Times, Issue 22991, 10 September 1936, Page 5

BUILDING OF HOUSES

Use Of Public Credit NEW ZEALAND MATERIALS Private Industry’s Part (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 9. Completion of the necessary arrangements with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for the provision of the requisite funds to begin a comprehensive plan of housing construction in the Dominion was announced in a statement issued to-night by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). The Minister also stated that in this connection it was the Government’s intention to give effect to its monetary policy by the direct use of public credit. During the next 12 months £3,500,000 would be made available to the Ministry of Housing for the construction of houses for the State and loans to local authorities would be made for the same purpose. The expenditure of the funds would be under the direction of the Ministry of Housing, of which Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, has taken full charge. The first report by Mr Lee on the housing construction project was also released to-night by Mr Nash. The report gives an outline of the general policy of housing, with particular reference to the part to be played by private industry. Co-operation Sought. “It should be first of all borne in mind,” Mr Lee states, “that the Mrnrstry of Housing intends to avail itself oi the existing building organizations, but, if outside organizations are not prepared to co-operate, the Government will of necessity be forced to build houses itself. However, it is believed that the best result can be achieved by the willing co-operation of all interested parties. The Ministry of Housing must be in a position to avail itself ot all the benefits of large scale production, and to this end it is being organized with the object of enlisting, as far as possible, the assistance of private organizations. Proposals for the completion of a housing survey are also being finalized. The aims of the Ministry include the following:— The provision of high grade, reassonably priced residences, grouped in accordance with the best town planning principles. The utilization of unemployed artisans and labourers in the erection of national assets. “The houses to be erected will as far as possible be New Zealand made. As an initial step a register will be compiled of locally produced materialsand manufactures suitable for housing, the quantities available and the price at which bulk orders can be supplied. Before New Zealand-made goods are listed, the department will satisfy itself as to the quality and the Industries and Commerce Department will advise about the price and the ability oi manufacturers to fulfil contracts, ror instance the department has no intention of assuring to brick manufacturers a regular and profitable market, and at the same time agreeing to pay prices that can only be justified by depression outputs. Where private enterprise will supply a service at a reasonable figure, the Government will encourage the use of its products. State Aid Contemplated. “Where industry attempts to take an unfair advantage of the increased demand, we shall take steps to provide for our requirements through direct State enterprise. Where New Zealand industry can make a good article, but insufficient plant is available to cope with the needs of the Ministry of Housing, steps will be taken in conjunction with the Labour Department and the Department of Industries and Commerce, to ascertain whether it would be in the interests of the State to advance funds for the purpose of expanding the productive power of that industry. Where manufacturers are prepared to cooperate and play the game, the Government will, on its side, be prepared to extend sympathetic and practical assistance. Where New Zealand industry cannot meet the Housing Department’s requirements, British manufacturers will be given first preference. “It must be obvious that stocks of building material have been allowed to become severely depleted during the depression and the programme which the Government contemplates will necessitate the use of all forms of material and labour rather than of one material and one form of labour. Attention will be devoted to the problem of using as great a diversity of materials as possible. For example, it is hoped to build dwellings in timber and brick and concrete, and of various combinations of those materials. “The speed at which the various schemes will develop will always be dependent on the amount of material and labour available, and it is obvious that at no time should we attempt more than the physical resources of the country are capable of meeting. Register of Tradesmen. “A register is being compiled of all unemployed building tradesmen and all such are requested to send their names, addresses and qualifications by letter to Mr A. Tyndall, Director of Housing Construction, Wellington. “While a detailed statement cannot yet be issued about the procedure to be adopted, the following points will give a general idea, as to the lines upon which the housing policy is likely to be framed:— Within a range of listed New Zealand and British materials, building organizations will be given an opportunity to submit designs and firms prices for the construction of houses in areas to be determined. In all cases public tenders will be called. Where local authorities are prepared to co-operate in the building of high grade houses, utilizing materials in accordance with the policy already mentioned, financial assistance will be made available and technical advice will be freely given. Many local authorities have areas of land already subdivided, roaded and drained, which are admirably suited for housing schemes, and aid will be forthcoming to an extent that is proved to be justified by reliable surveys of the housing position in each locality. Information

covering this form of assistance will later be prepared, and, in due course, conveyed to the local authorities. Practising architects will be invited to submit plans of houses tliat conform to New Zealand standard for selection by applicants who desire to build individually, and who possess sufficient means to furnish deposits. Where plans arc adopted the responsible architect will be given a remuneration for his services and for supervising the construction in accordance with a scale agreed upon between the Government and the Institute of Architects. The Ministry of Housing will also devote itself to the problem of raising the standard of rural housing and of farm buildings. The farmer should be able to secure the benefits of mass production, as well as the city dweller and, indeed, farm buildings lend themselves more to standardization than urban residences. So far very little successful concrete housing has been achieved. The Ministry will communicate with cement companies and suggest that their own staff, or in conjunction with established building organizations, they should attempt to evolve method of building in concrete that will result in structures conforming to modern ideals of aesthetics and economy. Concrete construction has one important advantage, namely, its power to absorb a greater proportion of unskilled labour than other forms of construction. While the construction of houses in concrete in the past has not been an outstanding success, nevertheless the lasting qualities, low maintenance cost and fireproof nature of this material, together with other obvious advantages in a country subject to earthquakes, make it desirable that every effort should be made to evolve acceptable designs in concrete or in concrete used in conjunction with other materials. “At. the moment it is not advisable to say more about the proposals of the Ministry of Housing. As various features of the scheme are worked out fully, informative official statements will be issued. It appears at present that practical house building will probably be first of all undertaken in Wellington and Auckland, but schemes in Christchurch and Dunedin and other centres of population, where careful investigation establishes a real necessity, will follow as speedily as possible. A Tremendous Task. “The Ministry of Housing is undertaking a tremendous task and while the Department is being organized and details of the scheme are being developed and materials and methods investigated, breathing space is essential. In the meantime, in view of the fact that misleading statements are already being circulated, all interested parties are advised to await authoritative pronouncements.”