D.—l

Approximately thirty special designs of houses adapted to varying site conditions and accommodation requirements have been prepared in close collaboration with the Department of Lands and Survey. Farm buildings, including milk-sheds, implement-sheds, piggeries, and wool-sheds, are included in this scheme, and these also have been the subject of research to establish practical standards for the purposes of this scheme. In some cases work in connection with this scheme has taken the form of extensive alteration, subdivision, and removal of existing buildings. Every endeavour has been made to make the maximum use of present buildings, even to the extent that, when nothing else can be done with them, the demolished materials are used as far as is practicable for new houses or sheds. So far work has been undertaken in connection with nearly forty land blocks, in most cases involving subdivision, making a total of approximately one hundred and thirty holdings. Contracts have been let or completed for over fifty farm houses. Preparatory work for building contracts is in hand for approximately eighty further farms. Most of the farms are dairy propositions, and in nearly every case a milking-shed and an implement-shed are required in addition to the house. (8) Man-power.--The man-power position in the building industry has improved to some extent, the total labour force employed directly by the Department and contractors at 31st March being 3,645, as against 3,170 a year ago. It is anticipated that this number will be considerably increased as men in the Armed Forces are released, but, due to the unbalance in the allied building trades, it may be some time before the increased man-power will take full effect. (9) Expenditure. —The cumulative net expenditure up to 31st March, 1945, for the purchase and servicing of land, and the erection of joinery-factories and houses, including all administrative charges, amounted to £28,390,700, while liabilities and commitments amounted to a further £5,956,900. The net expenditure for the year under review was £4,445,600. The total cost of administration of the Department (exclusive of interest charges) from its inauguration to date was £785,000, or 2-86 per cent, of the net expenditure (excluding administrative costs and interest). The percentage for the year ended 3'lst March, 1945, was 2-96. (10) Building Control.—■ With the full implementation of what is virtually a normal peacetime building programme, the work of the building control organization has considerably increased during the year, and its duties have become more involved and difficult due to shortage of materials. Applications for building permits are progressively increasing in number, and the gap between supply and demand has widened, for, although the labour force in the industry has increased to some extent, the material supply position in a number of major building commodities continues to deteriorate. It is quite evident that for the present there can be no relaxation of control. During the year some 25,000 building applications have been approved, amounting in value to approximately £15,000,000. In addition, thousands of applications concerning the release of controlled materials have been dealt with. With the decline in the supply position this phase of the work is naturally growing in volume and intensity. (11) Carpentry Training Schools. —The Auxiliary Workers Training Emergency Regulations 1941 provided for the establishment of schools for the training of adult workers, orginally under the control of the Labour Department, but since early in 1944 administered by the Rehabilitation Department. The first school was established at Miramar, Wellington, and eleven are now in operation throughout New Zealand. After the trainees have the necessary standard of efficiency the Housing Construction Department arranges contracts with the Rehabilitation Department for the labour involved in groups of State houses. Dp to 31st March, 1945, sixty-four contracts have been let in nine towns, involving 419 houses, of which 106 have been completed. The scheme is proving very successful and is being extended to other towns. In addition to active house-building, the trainees are also manufacturing certain joinery in their schools, and the Housing Construction Department specifies the use of these items by housing contractors when suitable and available. (12) Statistics. —-The cumulative progress of the Department over the successive years since its inception as at 31st March is as follows :—

23

1937-38. 1938-39. j 1939-40. 1940-41.* 1941-42.» 1942-43.* 1943-44.* 1944-45* Units. TJnits. Units. Units. Units. Units. Units. Units. (a) Houses advertised .. .. 3,172 6,698 11,071 14,084 17,029 17,443 20,910 24,581 (J) Contracts let .. .. 2,507 6,188 10,353 13,647 16,522 16,799 19,487 22,349 (c) Houses under construction .. 1,560 2,326 2,847 2,444 2,033 1,209 2,078 3,442 (d) Houses completed and handed 399 3,064 6,459 10,425 13,633 14,892 15,722 17,741 over for occupation Towns. Towns, Towns. Towns. Towns. Towns. Towns. Towns. (e) Towns and localities work con- 70 106 121 137 141 146 153 184 ducted in Contractors, Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. Contractors. /) Principal contractors engaged.. 145 240 291 326 345 346 406 506 (ig) Payments— ££££££££ Land and services .. 298,500 890,600 1,638,900 2,549,100 3,086,400 3,665,500 4,212,300 4,934,000 Dwellings-construction— Housing Department .. 1,053,600 4,311,400 8,567,200 13,075,300 16,376,500 17,316,200 18,326,200 21,690,600 Other Government Depart- .. .. 26,700 128,400 191,400 325,200 523,700 678,600 ments Joinery-factories, including 48,900 50,500 52,600 49,400 45,900 46,700 46,700 45,700 machinery Vehicles, plant, and equip- 2,600 6,200 12,900 17,200 19,100 21,600 23,100 30,600 ment Interest during construction 6,600 21,000 31,000 52,200 93,500 117,600 154,000 226,200 Administration .. .. 66,200 166,400 281,300 406,400 539,800 685,700 659,100 785,000 1,476,400 5,446,100 10,610,600 16,278,000 20,352,600 22,178,500 23,945,100 28,390,700 * Work retarded due to the temporary diversion of contractors and the Department's organization to defence works.