IN CRITICAL MOOD

Chronicle (Levin), 25 February 1947, Page 7

IN CRITICAL MOOD

Press Association

Builders' President on Shoddy Materials

By Telewcu ih—

AUCKLAND, Jb'eb. 24. Concern that builders were being 1'orced to use shoddy materialp produced by New Zealand manufacturers wno, to a degree, held a monopoly of production of certam building materials, was expressed by Mr. H. J. Hulse, president of the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors Industrial Association of Employers, in his address at the opening of the association 's annual conference in Auckland. "Builders can iind little fault with the general estahlishment of secondary industries in the Dominion hut are strongly opposed to the granting . oi' monopolies m any form whatever, whether by tariff control, irnport selection or by Act of Parliament," said Mr. Hulse. "The purchase cost of some of New Zealand nuule materials builders had to use, is high and the cost of using and maintaiiiing tliem is alniost twice that of the imported product," he said. Gince builders last rnet at tlieir annuai conference they had experienced a f'ull year of the unparalleled shortages of" timber, hardware, wall linings, steel, cenient, baths — in fact most of the materials required by the industry to carry out the tremendous obligations of their trade, said Mr. Hulse. The wholesale devastation -which had taken pJace in Britain and Europe would eontinue to be responsible for a material shortage in New Zealand for a long time yet. A reeent statement by the Connnissioner of State Forests that there was a promise of a substantial increase in timber production in New Zealand was welcoine news for builders but even if the promise became fact, there would have to be considerably greater supplies of such other essentials o'f building as bricks, wall linings, roof tiles and hardware, before builders could produce a iinished housc. The oil'ering of extremely higli wages by some employers in other industries was very dangerous and would have the effect of creating uncontrolJed competition.for labour. The principal culprits wero engaged in new industry althougli some established organisatious continued to oCl'er higher wages and othei anienities to induce worlccrs to them. These foolish practices were drawing labour from essential industries some of which were vitally concerned in the production of materials required for the construction of homes for the homeless

people. "There has abeady been a substantial reduction in building costs by the aliolition of the saies tax but this in turn is almost cancelled by the increas- . ed costs of wages and materials," Mr. Hulse continued. "With the ihcreased, cost of dwellings it seeniG alniost iinpossible for the a\*erage working rnan to finance the building of his own home, even with the aid of liberal advances from private, local bodv and State lending institutions. Iient restrictive legislation and controls have had the elfect of making the iinancing of building;bv private investors unecononpc." i\ ]•." Hulse referred to the method of disposal of State houses, describing it as a political problem. The method of Iinancing the present Government 's housing' scheme was opou to serious question, ho said. One section of the workers, and others, were required to contribute indircctly a portion of rental for the privileged few to have cheap houses with rents fixed on the 1936 basis, a rental still in operation in spite of the 50 per cent increase in costs of construction siiice then. He criticised ihe Opposition, too, for their scheme of utilising these low rentals as the basis of the selling price of homes. THE RETORT PRACTICAL AUCKLAND, Peb. 24. Suggestions that the building industry in New Zealand should he nationalised, were answered hy Mr. H. J. Hulse, president of the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors' Industrial Association of Employers in his address to the annual conference of the association. The suggestions, he saia had in the main emanated from union secretaries and others who had not the ability and did not want the responGibility of starting in business right open to everyone in the Dominion. "I can say, as one who has risen from the ranks of active unionism, that it seems very strange to me that such persons who apparently know so little of the responsibility, concentration and organisation needed to huild up a business, can think that the State could do better, "said Mr. Hulse. "If the State is, as some think, able to do as* well -as enterprise, it now has its opportunity to show what can he done to meet the needs of industries and householders by producing sufficient coal for all." GOVERNMENT S CANNOT ADMINISTER AUCKLAND, Fcb. 24. Dissatisfaetion with the official policy towards the liousing shortage was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. Allum, vvheu welcoming delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors ' Industrial Association of Employers. "I think tlie eft'orts ineffective and not a bit like what they would be if eonducted on a businesslike basis, ' ' he said. Only that morning he had re ceived advice of the closing of auother English faetory ivhicli had been sendinq supplies hete. In his opinion alteruatiye supplies had got to be fou'nd. " We have reached a stage where men» of goodwill are wanted to se.e the task out," Mr. Allum continued. "It is not a question of politics. The tragedy is that. the Government seems to think they can not only legislate but also adniinister. Looking back I am fmally convinced that the one thing Governments can not do is administer. They have neither the knowledge nor the ex■w and if is our iob to offer our knowledge and experienee to them. In the direction of temporary accommodation for people seeking homes, he thought the master builders could do a great deal,