ENGLISH ARTISANS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 113, 16 May 1939, Page 8

ENGLISH ARTISANS

500 COMING TO NEW ZEALAND WORK UNDER GOVERNMENT HOUSING SCHEME [ Per Press AssoefftUnr. 1 AUCKLAND, May 15. The first batch of 100 artisans out | of a total of 500 to be engaged in England, are either on the water now or will be leaving in the course of the next' few days for work in New Zealand under the Government’s housing scheme. This announcement was made by the Minister of Housing, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who arrived from Wellington by the Limited express this morning. He said the men were being sent out in "balanced proportion” so that the scheme could go along smoothly. The greater number would be carpenters and joiners. All the men would arrive at Wellington, where most of them would be employed. The Minister said that about twothirds of the artisans who had come from Australia recently for work under the housing scheme had been employed at Wellington, but despite that, more houses were being completed in Auckland than in Wellington. “Men are coming from Australia in small batches who are not under contract to the Government,” added the Minister. “They are seeking work on their own account. It is because of the visit of Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., that they have decided to throw in their lot in the Dominion. He was able to tell the Australian artisans what the Government is achieving in New Zealand as far as house construction is concerned, and the response has been most satisfactory.

"We produce a completed house every 35 minutes of the working day,” said the Minister. "If all the houses finished or in the course of construction were placed side by side, each with a frontage of 66ft., they would extend on one side of the Great South Road all the way from Auckland to Hamilton. That is my reply to those who say the Government has not done much to satisfy the housing requirement of the Dominion.” The Minister said that despite the large number of houses being built, over 5000 a year, it would be a long time before his department would catch up with the shortage. Up to May 5 of this year the Housing Department had completed 3358 dwellings, while 2335 were nearing completion or under way. "The Housing Department was initially instructed to build 5000 houses and it is anticipated that the five thousandth house will be handed over next October,” the Minister said. "At that time another 2500 dwellings will be in the course of erection. I hope that by the end of the year the number of houses contracted for by builders will reach the 10,000 mark.” The Minister said that at the present time houses had been completed or were being built in 90 cities and towns, while land had been purchased in 107 towns. The number of men engaged in construction, road-making and on the staff was 5677.