HOUSE BUILDING IN WARTIME

Southland Times, Issue 25642, 9 April 1945, Page 2

HOUSE BUILDING IN WARTIME

MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 7. Replying to recent criticism concerning shortages of manpower for the building industry, the Minister of Work, Mr Semple, stated today that he was fully aware of' the necessity for the provision of homes for those, including returned men, at present living under a sub-standard condition. “For my part, I am imbued with a desire to erect homes for the people in ever-increasing numbers, whether by the State or prjvate enterprise, and no one regrets more than I do that it has been necessary for the Government to make a decision which will further embarrass an already seriously embarrassed industry,” said Mr Semple. “The obstacles in the way of house building in wartime are serious and numerous, and this caling up of further grade one men is just one more hurdle which will make my object of producing houses in evercreasing numbers the more difficult of accomplishment. Who, however, would deny the Government the right to provide reinforcements for the purpose of replacing those men overseas who for so long have borne the brunt and suffered the risks and privations of active service. This is the whole crux of the question, and I for one would not deprive these men of their right to return to their homeland merely for the purpose of seeing my own plans brought to fruition.” LOSSES TO INDUSTRY

Mr Sempfe added that one thing that was not fully appreciated was that at the point of calling up a further draft for service with the armed forces nobody—not even appeal boards—was in a position to say what contribution each industry would make to that quota until the quota was actually filled. Losses to each industry could not be determined, but at that point it became necessary for readjustments of manpower right throughout the various industries, having regard to their particular priorities. After five years of war the pool of grade one men available was so depleted that it was quite impossible to fill the quota of reinforcements by restricting the calling up to specified industries, said the Minister. Men could only be found by combing through the entire resources of the nation’s manpower. Admittedly the building industry would suffer as a result, but there was not certainty at this stage that by a readjustment of manpower we would not be able at least to maintain or even accelerate our present building programme. With reference to planning the country’s constructional activities so that limited material could be equated to the manpower available, the Commissioner of Works, the Building Controller and the Director of Manpower exercised an engineering and economic review over all the projects being carried out for the Government, and the Government programme was co-ordi-nated with industrial and private programmes through the Building Controller.

COMPARISON WITH AUSTRALIA “New Zealand’s achievements in building during the war are truly remarkable,” said Mr Semple. “Over and above the tremendous defence construction programme, house building has never completely ceased, and it is interesting to note New Zealand’s effort compared with Australia’s. For the five years ended December 31, 1944, 24,899 permits for dwellings were issued, 13,241 of which were for private dwellings and 11,658 for State rental houses. For the year ended December 31, 1944, the number of permits issued was 3300, of wheih, 1455 were private and 1845 State. For the. whole of Australia in the same year there was constructed a total of 354 houses. “The truth of the matter is that the building industry today enjoys a seller’s market. The demand is far greater than the supply, and the component factors are out of equilibrium. The suppply of manpower is out of equilibrium with materials, and the material supply is out of equilibrium with the demand. It behoves the Government to endeavour to preserve a proper balance between the three, and I think the measure of success that has been attained can be gauged by tire results achieved,” added Mr Semple.