SHORTAGE OF HOUSES

Timaru Herald, Issue 170296, 14 August 1920, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF HOUSES

IN RECENT YEARS. PRESENT SHORTAGE 7400. From our .Parliamentary Correspondent A report by tlie superintendent of tlie housing braneli of tlie Labour Department has been placed before the House of Representatives by the Minister for Labour (Sir W. H. Herries). The report deals with the operations of the branch from, its inception in November, 1919, and contains an interesting calculation of the shortage of '.houses in New Zealand. The Superintendent estimates that the shortage of houses in October, 1916, amounted to 4100. The houses required for the natural increase of the population and the returned soldiers in 1917, 191S and 1919, numbered 8100, .and the estimated requirements for 1920, 1921 and 1922 are 6550 hmises. The number of houses built during the period 19161922 is estimated at 21,800 less demolitions and fires 7000, leaving a net shortage in 1922 of 3950 houses. The Superintendent estimates the present shortage of houses at 7400. If arrangements are made under the Housing Act for the erection of 1300 houses a year by the Department, the local bodies, employers and harbour boards, in addition to houses built by private enterprise, the shortage will be largely overcome by the end of 1922. The number of houses completed, started, or proposed to be erected, by the Department since November 1919 is 1085, and the Superintendent believes that the rate can be improved as difficulties are overcome. The chief difficulties have been shortage of labour and of material. The report suggests that the statutory maximum ccst of a house erected under the Workers Dwellings Act should be increased. The present maximum is £775 for a wooden house* and £BSO fbr a concrete one. The Wellington City Council has built four rooms a>t a cost of £llOO and a five roomed house at £I3OO. The suggested maxima *mder the Workers' Dwellings Act are £9OO for a woocten bouse, and £IOOO for a concrete bouse. The Superintendent states that the Government can • rect a house for £l5O less than the private builder must charge, owing to its large purchases of materials and its disregard of profits, and he believed therefore that even if the cost of buildiug falls the Government will be adouately protected from loss.