50
THE HOUSING QUESTION
16th March, 1921.
Major Kelley asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware
that operatives employed on building guilds’ contracts are laying
900 bricks per day, while on private contracts they will not lay
more than 300 ; can he state approximately what difference in
time this will make in completion ; what reduction in cost there
would be in housing schemes ; and can the Government now use
all possible means to see that trained or semi-trained ex-service
men are absorbed in the building trade ?
Dr Addison : " There is considerable variation in the output
of bricks obtained in various schemes. The Building Guilds state
that they have obtained a high average in certain schemes and
the same is true of some contractors’ schemes. I have no evidence
that there is any such difference as the Hon. and Gallant Member
suggests between the output obtained on Guild and other
contracts.
" An increase of output from zoo to 900 bricks a day would be
equivalent on the average to a saving of approximately two
months in the time taken to complete the houses in a scheme
and to a saving in cost of about ^70 a house.”
Lieut. -Commander Kenworthy : " Why not give greater
facilities to the Guilds ? ”
Dr. Addison : " There are many difficulties in presenting a
proper statement on this matter. The number of Guild schemes
is so small that it is difficult to make a fair comparison. We are
getting such information as we can, and I will give it to the
House as soon as I have it.”
Could anything be more astonishing than for a
Minister to say that he will not allow further houses
to Guilds until he is satisfied with their work, and, in
another reply, to say that he cannot find out how they
are progressing because they are at work on so few.
Or take the case of dilution of the building trade.
