INCREASED COSTS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24902, 15 June 1946, Page 8

INCREASED COSTS

LOCAL BODY LABOUR AND MATERIALS HEAVY BURDEN ON AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 14. The heavy burdqn that had been thrown on the citizens of Auckland and on the City Council by the great rise in costs since 1936 was referred to by the Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum) in a memorandum which accompanied the 1946-47 estimates to-night. He said that although the increase in rate a head had been 70.2 per cent, in 10 years costs had risen by almost 100 per cent., and the population by 20.5 per cent.

“Citizens are now rightly calling for maintenance and improvement works to be done, and the council will put such essential works in hand to the limit of labour and material available.” said Mr Allum. “Tremendous increases in costs which have been going on over the years, far from being ignored, must be met. Goods have to be bought and the work done when the New Zealand pound is at the highest ooint of its inflation.” Mr Allum said the report from the City Engineer (Mr A J. Dickson) showed an increase of 99 per cent, in the cost of maintenance work since 1936 and 100 per cent, each in buildins costs and service vehicles since 1939 and about 70 per cent, in pre-mixed bituminous oavement materials in the same period. For labourers, the average increase in costs a man hnur. including al] benefits was 58 per cent since 1936 and 31.6 per cent, since 1939 Corresponding increases for tvnical tradesmen were 70.37 per cent, and 31.4 per cent.