RISING BUILDING COSTS

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1947, Page 8

RISING BUILDING COSTS

-Presa Asscciatidh

NEED FOR INQUIRY UEGED

By Telegroarv —

auckland, ret). lo._ A request tliat a Commission trfe appointed. to inquire into the rapidiy risiiig cost of building and obtain evi* detice oii the effect of the coal shortagfe and shipping conditions on the lowering of production in the building trade, was contained in a resolution to be fdr\varded to the Prime Minister, which was carried at the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Arciiitects. The motion was carried aftei Mr, R. L. McPhail, Building Contrdf ler, addressed the conference and- outiined the •difSclilties of granting building permits whiie esseiitial materials were in short siipply. Repiying to a suggestion that huild ing control shoiild be relieved by femoving some of the difiiculties whicL made it necessary, Mr. McPhail said il would have to remain in force. Sugplies of materials presented a growihg problem and the external and intemai position was likely- to hecome worse. Kuggestions that certain districts re ceived preferential treatment and tliat supplies available were allocated to c.entres irrespective of conditions thete, were witliout foundation, he said. Supplies were made available entirely on a uational basis. The timber position was outlined by Alr. McPhail who said the annual aver age production during the three years up to 1039 was 31 ij, 000, 000 board f'eet and for the three years up to 1946 il was 3-15,000,000 board feet. It would appear that the building trade was as well supplied as it was before the wai* but in .1939, 110,000,000 board feet was lield in reserve while in 1945 they held only* 45,00u,000 board feet. Production during 1947 would thow a small increase in usable timber as new miils had been established, although that would be offset partly by other mills closiug. Arrangements had been nntde to import 28,000,000 board feet o; American timber, mainly redwood, and lialf of that amount might arrive this vear. C'ement Position. Cemeht oifered similar problems to that of timber. The works were slo wed down by the coal sliortage aud liopes that production could be maintained to provide a stock of between 15,000 and 1 8,000 tons did not materialise. Alibut 5000 tons was held in reserve over Ghristmas but since then the amouht. lial dwindled to less tlian 2000. tons. Prospects of more coal for that piirpose were not bright. It was necessary to import cement to overcoiue the shdrt age and although the bulk of the 35,000 tons which had befen ordered had arrived, there was little prospect of obtaining more from the United Kingdom. tSteel was another commodity which was in short supply and as supplies had not conie to hand the future was inlciTnite. l'he brick industry, as it was consti tuted at presfcnt, had not played thc part it should in building, according to .Mr. McPhail. There was a brighter outlook for roof tiles but most of the other less familiar building materials were in short supply. "To achieve an equitable distribuliou of sup])lies, I prei'er to emplov amicable negotiiition rather than en lorce regulations, ' ' said Mr. AlcPhail " but it may be necessary to exercisi stricter control ov'er items in shorl supply to ensure that the limited quan iities are used in the best way. ' ' Porcelain baths were instanced by Mr. McPhail as one essential commodity which had declined noticeably Whereas in 1940, some 18,400 baths were produced, in 194(5 there were only S2(10. "Failing the ordinary curfe of the position it is for the Govermnent to declare a state of emergency and sec ihut ihe factories are manned," said Mr. McPhail. "Baths are in great dentaiid and the prospects of further sup {ilies from overseas are not good. Only ti limited quantitv of gal vanised . iron biiths is being made in New Zealand." Mr. McPhail quoted figures to sliow that, whereas building costs in New Zealand had increased hy ahout 40 per cent. since the beginning .of the war, the increase had been higher oversdas. -