HOUSING CONTRACTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 265, 8 November 1937, Page 8

HOUSING CONTRACTS

JOHNSONVILLE DWELLINGS MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. ; Commenting on the criticism of the 'letting of the Johnsonville housing contract to a co-operative group, Hon. J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Sec-retary in Charge of Housing, stated to-day that from the moment of inception of the Government’s housing scheme, repeated and widely-publi-cised statements had been made that the Government was prepared to negotiate with any bona fide group of co-operative builders who would undertake the erection of houses on a co-operative basis. Mr. Lee said: “The Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing have authorised me to enter into contracts with any bona fide builder or group of builders who will submit a satisfactory price. In a few days builders will be able to receive plans and specifications subject to the assurance that they will be returned if they desire to negotiate. The deparment repeatedly has negotiated contracts with builders in towns where no satisfactory tenders have been received and in places where the lowest tender has exceeded the Government’s price. “Co-operative builders are entitled to a chance to show what they can achieve,” Mr. Lee. “The Government is prepared to give the cooperative organisations an opportunity as past Governments always have been very willing to apply the cooperative principle to other forms of public works. The Union Construction Company has been tested on the initial group of five houses at Johnsonville and the reports are so satisfactory that increased contracts have been negotiated. We. are in the market for the services of any house builders, co-operative or otherwise.”