BUILDING TRADE IN DUNEDIN

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 27 May 1914, Page 11

BUILDING TRADE IN DUNEDIN

A SLACK TIME

(Sr-ECIAT, TO "THE PRESS.")

DUNEDIN

May 26,

The building trade in the city duriag the winter is expected to be very quiet. There is a fair amount of jobbing in hand and in sight, but there are only a lew large contracts under way and arranged for early fulfilment. Representative men say that they see no prospect of enough work to absorb all tho surplus labour in the building and allied trades during the winter. Applications for building permits during tnis month enow that a great deal of jobbing is in baud—repairs and. slight additions and alterations to dwellingaouses, shops, and factories. Contracts for substantial dwellings and business premises are scarce in the city and there 16 nothing a'-TM-oaching a boom in the suburbs. The estimates for new dwellings range from £300 to one of £1400., thus showing that there is little enterprise in the direction, of building large residences in the city and suburbs. Work is practicaliv" confined to the erection of four and five-roomed dwellings. It was expected earlier in the year that the money market would ease in Ajiril and thus encourage enterprise, but there appears to bo uo immediate prospect of a reduction in the prices of small loans.