BUILDING COST

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 150, 21 March 1921, Page 7

BUILDING COST

A TEN YEARS’ COMPARISON

WAGES AND MATERIAL IN NEW SOUTH WALES

A remarkable comparative table, showing advances in building costs in a period of ten yeare, is published by the "Australasian Manufacturer,” which says: '"The housing question is assuming growing seriousness in Australia. Beyond all question the housing accommodation in this country is utterly inadequate. Of course, the chief cause is tho dearness of houses. Wages and cost of building materials have risen bo enormously, and Governmental restrictions with regard to rents, • especially in New South Wales, are so onerous and far-reaching, that men with capital to invest are avoiding tha erectloif of houses and seeking a return for their money in other directions. The result is that all sorts of people, and particularly the working clades, have to- pay high rents for very indifferent dwelling places. "A few figures will enable the render to gauge the situation. The following table shows nt a glance that increased wages, at least in New South Wales, arete a very big extent responsible for the increased cost of building: —

"But the cost of materials has risen even in n greater ratio than wages, as the following table (also relating to N.S.W.) makes evident:—

Wares per hour— 1910. 1920. Occupation. 0. d. s. d. Painters—First srrade ... 1 3 2 2 ,, Second rrade... 1 0 (all 1 irrade) Carpenters . Stonemuaons Plasterers 1 41 1 6 1 41 2 44 2 6'11-IC 2 9 Plumbers i 2 3A Pricklayers . 1 6 2 9 to 3 1J Puilders’ labourers 1 0 2 0? Hodcarriers 1 2 2 3 Slaters, tilers. & ahlnglers 1 41 2 5

1910. 1920. Material. £ s. d. £ s. d. Bricks (at kiln), per 1000 2 0 0 3 8 0 Lime, per ton 1 15 0 4 11 0 Clement, nor has 0 4 4 0 6 4 Oregon per 100 0 18 0 3 5 6 Hardwood, nor 100 too 1 16 0 Galvanised iron, ner ton 18 0 0 61 0 0 Linseed oil. ner aallon... 0 3 6 0 12 6 White lend, ner ton 36 0 0 95 10 0 French tiles, ner 1000 ... 12 0 0 19 0 0 41n. earthenware plpea. per foot . M 0 0 6 0 0 7 «in . earthenware pipes, per foot 0 0 7 0 0 95