THE LOCKUP SHOP.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18235, 20 November 1924, Page 4

THE LOCKUP SHOP.

AN AUCKLAND PROBLEM,

"Thore arc far too many of these Mv.aH shops being built. The speculators in this lino will find that in manv cases they will have 'white elephants' on their hands," declared a well-known Auckland builder commenting on activities in this direction, says the Auckland •'"Star."

Not only were new shops being erected in almost every street, and certainly in all tho main streets, in both city and suburbs, but many old small houses, which in tho opinion of this builder, should be pulled down, were being ''transformed." That was to say, shop fronts were being put on—often in the hope of lotting them for business at larger rentals. Also, old shops were putting on more modern faces with the idea of attracting more business, and incidentally, drawing higher rentals. Tho number of shops in Auckland and suburbs had grown enormously in the last couple of years; indeed, oven in the last" year, 'said the builder, and quite a number of these had been up for many months without Sliding tenants.

The builder expressed particular aversion to the continued erection of "lock-up" shops, or shops without residences attached, and _ predicted that speculator;* in this lino particularly would regret their investments. "They arc asking rents out of all reason for these places," ho said, "especially in the suburbs. I know of some lock-up shopsi they aro expecting to get £3 or £4 a week for. That would be quite enough rent for them if they had residences attached. I believe some of tho borough councils are against tho building of these small lock-up shops, and I certainly think their further erection should be prevented. There is no doubt in mv mind that they cheapen any locality. One big general store to supply all requirements is worth twenty of these so-called shops in which very little trading is transacted v '•'There could be no objecting, of course, to the erection of good shops with dwellings attached, although thero aro too many of those also for Auckland's needsi to-day. A man, with the aid of his family in the shop, and with only one rent to pay, may pull along comfortably enough in such an establishment without a big turnover. The shop may pay tho rent, anyhow, and tho man could go out to work and his wages would go very much further than if tho rent had to come out of them. Apart from that, very many of the household necessities could' be taken out of stock at wholesale cost, and this would further considerably reduce the cost of living."

Shops and Hats. Attention was also drawn to the fact that many shops now in course of erection were having flats attached for letting. This, the builder considered, was a further undesirable catering for the J 'flat habit." A speculator would acquire a site and, in a limited area, he would erect a double-fronted shop, with a couple of "flats" behind and a couple overhead. Thus ho would try and secure a flve-fold rent.

It was considered a disgrace, in tho opinion of the builder, that with so much spare land about Auckland for the building of healthy, airy homes, people shoifM be further encouraged to dwell in "ilatr,." It was bad enough when congestion in large cities rendered '-flats" more or less necessary, but there was not the excuse of necessity as far as Auckland was concerned.

"Houses' are wanted, not more shops." declared' the builder. "You ean make a home of a house; you can't mako a real homo in a- flat. There is a desperate need 1 for moro houses for people to livo in, and although there appears to bo a lot of building of bungalows, it is not nearly overtaking the demand. People want homes and can't get them, so they herd in "flats,'' or rooms, which is bad for family life and bad for the- country —for they don't raise- families in flats, you know. A Pom pup or a Persian cat is the nearest approach to a child you seen in a flat, as a rule."

JAPANESE BUILDING TYPES.

Japan's disastrous earthquake of last September clearly demonstrated tho vital need for a change in stylo of architecture. The heavy tile roofs above lightly constructed houses was the cause of many buildings collapsing before the occupants could escape. Nevertheless, after much discussion in an effort to have the building type modified better to suit conditions, the Japanese are still unwilling in most cases to make any change. They arc greatly attached to the old type of building, of light wooden construction; resembling cabiuet work rather than a house in the Western sense. The greater part of the lumber is cut and finished by hand on the spot. The sills consist of squared timbers from 6 x 6 to 12 x 12 inches, depending on the size of the building. These arc mortised and fitted, either on a cement base or one of wooden piles. The floor level is usually IS to 24 inches above the ground; the exterior finish is of weathcrboarding or plaster. Sliding panels take the place of American doors and windows. The floors consist of rough, unfinished soft-wood, on which thick straw mats are laid. The ceiling consists of thin unpaintcd boards, laid edge to edge, with narrow, unpaintcd cross strips. No paint is used, with the exception of a small amount of lacquer. A'ery few nails arc used, nearly all corners and joints being mortised and fitted by hand. Nails are used only in shingling and flooring.