§ Sir A. Maitlandasked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to reduce to the minimum the demand on building labour in the erection on the sites of the prefabricated elements of temporary houses and bungalows; and to what extent unskilled labour is being recruited for this purpose.
§ Mr. HicksThe objective in the development of prefabrication has been to carry out the maximum amount of work in factories and thus reduce the demand for building labour on the site. So far as erection is concerned, while this will be carried out by the building industry and under building trade conditions, the demand for craftsmen will automatically be greatly reduced, as compared with traditional forms of building. Every effort is being made to recruit extra labour for the building industry as the man-power position permits.