WORKERS' HOMES FOR NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1919, Page 4

WORKERS' HOMES FOR NEW PLYMOUTH.

TENDERS TOO HIGH. ■

STATEMENT BY PREMIER.

(By Wire. —Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night.

A letter sent out by the Labor Depart" ment stating that tenders for the erection of workers' dwellings in the New Plymouth district were too high to be accepted was mentioned in the House of Representatives this evening by Mr. S. 0. Smith (Taranaki). The letter stated that the lowest tender received had been £1023, to which had to be added the cost of the section. The total cost would be much in excess of the allowance fixed by the Act, and no tender could be let at such a rate. The Department had been able to arrange for the building of houses at Wellington, and probably would be able to let tenders at Auckland, - Nelson,' and Timaru. The letter added , that arrangements would be made later >

for the successful tenderers in these centres to build homes in centres whereno tenders had been accepted. Mr. Smith asked what immediate pro* vision the Government was going to make for the needs of New Plymouth. Over 200 people were practically homeless in the town now, owing chiefly to the purchase of houses for returned soldiers.

The Prime Minister replied that there was no doubt the New Plymouth tenders had been excessively high. It would not have been in the interests of the Department, or of the tenants, to build homes at such prices. He intended to ask the Labor Department to call for further tenders a little later. If the prices were again too high, the Department would have to bring contractors and labor from outside. Mr. Smith: Will the Minister ascertain the cause of the high prices! Mr. Massey: I am inquiring -into it nvw.