STILL SOARING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 13

STILL SOARING

THE PRICE OF TIMBER WHAT MAKES HOUSE-BUILDING COSTLY

One of the chief causes of the exorbitant price of building in Wellington is the high cost of timber, and, judging by the present outlook upon that score, houses are not going to cost less to build this year than they did in 1920. There have been two rises in tho price of timber since December. What actuated tho latest increases has not so fax* been disclosed, but rhe whole matter is being investigated by the Board of Trade, lhe very smallest job cannot, now be undertaken without , some apprehension as to cost, and as a result even repairs necessary to .health and comfort ai*® often neglected. To-day's prices are approximately from 150 to' 200 per cent, higher than they wehe ten years ago, and 100 per cent, above pre-war figures. Ordinary building rimu ranges from 33s Gd. per 100 ft. super, for marking to 475. Gd. per 100 ft. for lOin. rusticating. "Sawn green” ordinary building (9in.) costs 395. 6d.. and. seasoned 425.; seasoned (dressed) is 46 s. When it comes to clean heart rimu,. the prices (for 9in. boards) are: Sawn, 57a. 6d.; dry, 60s. 6d.; dressed, 645.; i2in„ 2s. Gd. extra. White pine 0.8. costs 2s. per 100 ft. miner less than clean 0.8. rimu, and clean white pine 2s. per 100 ft. super, more than 0.8. rimu. , . Totara, heart sawn building. is bis. green, 635. Gd., dry, and 67“. Gd. dressed; clean heart ranges from 655. to 71s 6d.. and even second-class is 465. per 100 ft. super. , , , Coining to matai, clean heart sawn Is 545. Gd.; nlain dressed rustic T. and th. 605.; 0.8. plain dressed, from 445. 6d. to 475. 6d., recording to width Kauri (most of which is controlled in Sydney) is very expensive. Clean heart, sawn runs into 81s. 6d. per 100 ft. super., and dressed 85s. Gd.; heart sawn, 605.; dressed, 735.; medium sawn, 595. Gd.; ; medium dressed, 635. Gd. All seasoned kauri is 2s. Gil. extra per 100 ft. super.; special lengths. 2s. extra par 100 ft. It is interesting to know at what cartage is lying charged. The rates are as follow:—To any point in the city bounded bv Lambton Quay. Willis, Ingestre, and Vivian Streets,. Kent Terrace, Victoria Street, Jervois Quay, Customhouse and Waterloo Quays, not less than Is. 3d per 100 ft. super. To Hataitai Is. 9d„ to Kilbirnie and Marnnui to be charged not less than Is. 9(1. per 100 ft. super. To Kelburn. Wadestown. Northland. Karori, Brooklyn, Vogeltown, 2s. Gd. per 100 ft. Island Bay, Boseneath, Miramar. and Seatonn to be charged not less than 2k. 3d. per 100 ft. super. To Ngaio, 2s. 9d. per 100 ft,; Khandallah, Bs. 3d. per 100 ft.; Johnsonville. 3s. 9d. per 100 ft.. Minimum load, 500 ft. Halfinch to count as half-measure. Three-quarter-inch to count as inch. The foregoing prices nre subject to a 21 per cent, discount if accounts be paid by the 20th of the month.