BUILDING MATERIAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 6

BUILDING MATERIAL

NATIONAL STOCK-TAKING IN PEOGEESS. Id reply to an Inquiry regarding tho operation of the building regulations, Mr. W. G. M'Donald (chairman of tho Board of Trade) has supplied the following information:—

The Board of Trade is keeping a systematic record of the quantities of timber. bricks, and ocmont required for buildings for which permits have been issued under the new regulations. By September 1 the board expects to have estimates of the quantities required for buildings which were in course of construction at June 30, and were allowed a period of two months' operations before coming under the new permit system. Thus the board will be soon in a position to know tho quantities of material* required for all kinds of buildings throughout the Dominion, and will be able to adjust tho supply to the demaud in accordance with the principle that essential works havo first claim on the available supplies. /-The board's task is to assuro a complete and equitable distribution of all timber, bricks, and cement.

Tho effect of the new regulations is to check non-essential building projects, and thus help the supply of materials to meet the demand for necessary works, and caro is lieing taken in tho regulation of permits to avoid the possibility of letting tho demand fall below tho supply. Applications for permits for buildings which can ]>e described as desirable but not as absolutely essential have been deferred by the board for three months. This action has been taken pending tho completion of the present Dominion stock-taking. "When this is finished the board will have reliable figures for its guidance in any allocation. of materials for buildings which are not deemed to bo "absolutely essential."