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(Ib) With a view to conserving timber, many types of construction have been investigated, mainly using concrete or concrete products. In every case where schemes have been submitted to the Department, careful consideration and investigation have been given to their practicability and potentialities. Excluding flats, 89 units utilizing concrete or concrete products are under construction, and 180 are in the process of negotiation. Experiments are also being carried out with various types of boxing for concrete construction. Of the various types of concrete construction, concrete-bearing wall construction comprises the largest proportion. Other types of construction being investigated include concrete blocks, cavity concrete with tile or concrete roofs, interlocking panels of pumice concrete, sawdust-cement panels, concrete blocks with reinforced-concrete frame, reinforced pumice-concrete panels and concrete frame, and " No Fines " concrete. The use of concrete floors and concrete roofs is being investigated and experimental houses erected as a result of research, and it is hoped that the usual difficulties associated with the use of these materials in house construction will be overcome. The use of Oamaru and other suitable building stone is being subjected to test to ascertain the potentialities of its greater use in small house construction. Waterproof plywood has been developed and has become a factor in the building industry. Several houses in this material are to be erected in the Auckland district. (c) Several schemes for the development of large blocks of flats in the four main centres have been prepared during the past year, there being two blocks totalling 61 units in Auckland ; ten blocks totalling 78 units in Wellington, Petone, and Lower Hutt; and eight blocks comprising 330 units are either ready for tendering or in an advanced stage of designing in Auckland and Wellington. (3) Purchase of Land.—So far as depleted staff would permit, the Department has continued its active policy of purchasing land in advance of immediate building capacity, in readiness for the accelerated programme of house-building when the materials and labour problems ease. Very few serviced sections are now available for acquisition in the main centres, and the Department has had to concentrate more on larger blocks for subdivision and development. During the year land was purchased sufficient for 2,145 building-sites, bringing the cumulative total to 42,061. The Department is holding land for 25,000 houses, including sections on which building is proceeding, but much of this land is still undeveloped. (4) Land Development.—Steady progress has been maintained in the planning of land acquired for development preparatory to the'commencement of the engineering and building construction work. Several large projects have been treated, notably areas in Lower Hutt at Taita (1,600 houses), Mount Roskill, Auckland (1,100 houses), Caversham, Dunedin (320 houses), and Tamaki, Auckland (8,000 houses), the last named in broad outline only. These schemes are more or less complete entities and entail the planning of all residential amenities, including shops, community centres, recreation reserves, schools, &c. The actual development of the land has been prosecuted to the utmost extent permitted by the prevailing shortage of qualified engineering staff and of labour and materials. The work comprises the construction of streets, sewers, and water reticulation, levelling of sections, and provision of paths, fences, and hedges. During the year 21 miles of streets have been constructed to a stage approaching completion, together with storm-water drainage, sewerage, and water supply. (5) Standards. —The Department is maintaining the standards of living accommodation adopted at its inception. From time to time minor alterations have been made to designs as dictated by materials available and expressed desires of public opinion, but, despite rising costs, the standard provided still conforms to the policy of improving the people's housing. (6) Housing Improvement.—The Housing Improvement Bill, designed to prevent the growth of slums and to improve housing conditions in areas where the standard of buildings is not satisfactory, was introduced into Parliament last year and passed its first reading. It has now been circulated to all bodies which would be responsible for its administration for their information and comment. The Bill has received general approval, and some useful suggestions have been forthcoming from the local authorities. These will be given consideration before the Bill is re-introduced for its second reading during this session of Parliament. (7) Rural Housing.—(a) With a view to maintaining and increasing primary production, the Department, in collaboration with Primary Production Councils and the State Advances Corporation, undertook the provision of both temporary and permanent rural housing for farm workers under the Rural Housing Emergency Scheme, 1944. Costs are temporarily met out of the Housing Construction vote with a subsidy from the War Expenses Account. This scheme includes temporary accommodation utilizing surplus Army huts on farms where the conditions do not warrant or pending the erection of permanent dwellings. Hutments, which may be hired or purchased outright, are supplied to the fanner complete and ready for occupation. The permanent accommodation comprises two standard designs with the usual amenities to be found in to-day's modern house, and with provision for additional rooms at a later date. These dwellings may be purchased for cash or finance may be arranged by the applicant through the State Advances Corporation. The period for application was extended from the 30th November, 1944, until the 31st March, 1945, for the benefit of the farming community, and at the closing date a total of 467 temporary and 82 permanent dwellings has been approved, with a number of applications still under action. Despite obvious difficulties in arranging erection in rural districts, the Department, by affording the scheme first priority in man-power and materials and by negotiating group contracts wherever possible, is concentrating its resources on providing this accommodation at the earliest possible date, thus considerably assisting the Dominion's drive for increased food production as part of its contribution towards the common issue of the Allied Nations. (b) The Department has also undertaken the erection of farm houses in connection with the Land Settlement Scheme operated through the Department of Lands and Survey.

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