Drastic Overhaul Of Building Costs And Supplies Needed To Overcome Housing Shortage

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 49, 25 May 1948, Page 5

Drastic Overhaul Of Building Costs And Supplies Needed To Overcome Housing Shortage

Asked yesterday to comment on a statement by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, that by the time the next general election came around the bacls of the housing problem would have been well broken, Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., expressed the opinion that there would have to be a drastic overhaul of the present supply and cost position if that were to come about.

The fact that 12,700 houses had been constructed in the Dominion during the last year was hailed by delegates to the annual conference of the Labour Party as a great achievement. It will be recalled that the target set by the Government a year ago was 12,000.

During discussion on the Housing Committee’s report Mr Semple stated that it was hoped to reach the 14,000 mark during the next year. By the time the next general election came around he believed the back of the housing, problem would have been well broken. Of the 12,700 houses, hailed as a great achievement for the year 1947-48, only approximately 25 per cent Were State Houses, Mr Sullivan said, the balance being private houses. For the year ending 1947 9,516 homes were built. Of these .2,634 only were State Houses.

“In view of the fact that little other than house building was done has New Zealand reached a record output in houses?” he said. “If this is the maximum we are capable of, we can never catch up arrears and 'keep pace with yearly demand.” Practically no commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, or public buildings had been erected, and much maintenance work had been neglected. Housing costs had risen to dizzy heights, and were still rising. People soon may be unable to buy homes. One pound today spent in building a house, would buy only What 10/- bought in 1939. The cost of building a hpuse for himself was getting beyond the average man, and if prices rise higher others would be unable to buy.

Buyers and builders had tried to grapple with the burden of rising costs, but there was not much they could do about it. “To meet increased costs, stud heights are reduced, size of rooms reduced, often fittings are omitted, and the question is how small can a small house be?” Mr Sullivan went on. “Today building is a bother to all who are associated with the industry. Materials are difficult to obtain, often uncompleted houses are left waiting for supplies.” In this area timber supplies had improved, but roofing, wallboard, baths etc. were most difficult to get. The supply of wallboard was eight months behind in delivery, baths 12 months or more. Skilled tradesmen were scarce and few apprentices trained to fill the gaps in all trades.

' “The answer to the call for more houses,” Mr Sullivan stated, “is to overhaul the whole supply position, to increase imports, speed up delivery and transport, and to work longer hours to make the things we need. Costs ean be reduced by the overhaul of taxation, reducing the burden on industry and worker alike, thus assisting to deliver a cheaper article to the consumer. The whole cost structure needs a complete overhaul.”

“At present house building can only proceed to the maximum of labour and material, available. To increase output, the building and associated industries must have more men to do the work, and the gaps in materials must be filled. As homes become smaller so must the unit number constructed increase.”