LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 244, 9 July 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TIMBER _PRICES AND THE COST OF BUILDING. Sir,—l had a cutting sent me cut from your paper, being a letter written to your column:) by someone connected with the sawmilling business at Tauinarunui. He Sues on to show that limber was not the factor towards making'the cost of buildin;; so expensive. I could quite follow him until ho came to his concluding remarks, expressing himself that, contractors were not sniisiied with the profits they were getting originally. Of course, 1 can only deal with our local prices (Napier), as I don't know what prico per 100 ft. was paid, nor the quality used in your correspondent's house. I should take him to be one of tho owners of tho mill, to bo able to pay up for a ,£I2OO house. Bather a big hurdle for a Worker.

1 enclose the local price liets for 1912 and 1,119 to back my figures up. Takjng the average of all classes and sorts it works out at—

Present prices—3fc. ■ per 100 ft. green; 3Gs. dry; 3Ss. 6d. dressed.. 1912 prices—l9s. Gd. per 100 ft. green; 21s. 6d. dry; 235. dressed. Difference in price—Us. Gd. per 100 ft. greenj 14?. 6d. dry; 15s. Gd. dressed, of a rise in seven years. . To co back further, say, twenty years, when the 70-Mile Bush was in full swing. I have had thousands of feet of timber landed at my yard, the log-cut, at Bs. per 100 ft., 2s. lid. of that being freight and Gd. cartage. And since the line has been open to Taihape I have bought a superior quality of ordinary building limber, f.o.b. truck Utiku, at ss. 6d. and a 3s. lid. freight. I am quite aware that the cost of all gear required in a. sawmill has gone up, also wages, but not to the extent that the difference shows above. The eawmiller has that many classes in his price lists now that what 'Was ordinary building timber ten years ago is absolutely no class now. If not trespassing on your space too far. T would 'like to show, according to mv opinion, what causes the excessive cost of building. First.—Over a third rise in the price of timber, caused by prices offering by intercolonial markets. Present 1911. 1918. price. Prices. £ s. d. £ s. d. JC s. d. Iron, per ton 20 0 0 105 0 0 50 0 0 .Nails, 1-inch ■ basis •0 13 G 3 5 0 2 2 0 Locks, per doz ■ 1 G 0 3 G 0 312 0 Sash line ... 0-16 0 9 0 012 G Scrim 0 0 5 0 110 per yd. White lear 112 0 5-50426 White lead, ' • English ... ■ - - 55 0 Linseed oil ... 03 0 012 3 0 9 6 All classes builder's ironmongery, 200 per cent. rise. . Wall papers, nuitp 150 ppr cent. Glass, quite 300 per cent. Wages, taking enrpenters as a guide— 1912. Is. -\\&. per hour; present time, U. lOd.; and one does not get too much for his money.

1 think the foregoing fisurrs show how the excessive cost of building is arrived at. A contractor generally places , a margin of 10 per cent, to see him through, which often does not material-, ise.

All figures and prices I have mentioneH I can substantiate, having had to pay; and papers are open to any applicant.— I am, etc., PLAIN BILL.