BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 674, 11 October 1921, Page 5

BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

PROGRESS OF PAPATOETOE.

PHENOMENAL FALL IN SEPTEMBER.

Building operations at Papatoetoe have been continud with sustained, if not increasing activity, during the past (twelve months, but there are indications which point to a decided decline in the near future, Ever since the beginning of 1920 carpenters in the district have been kept fully employed erecting new houses, and at times the demand for labour has attracted workers from other districts. On both sides of the railway line fields and sections that were vacant when the ne\v railway station was being built in 1920-21 have been made the sites of cosy bungalows., many built in briqk with rough-cast exterior walls. No doubt the demand for this material has been influenced by the acute shortage of timber which prevailed during the major' part of the period mentioned 1 , yet this is probably not the sole cause, for the durability and lasting qualities of the brick must always be ; an important factor. Activities on the eastern side of the railway line have been greater than those on the western, though the proportional growths must be; approximately the same. SOME CONTRASTS. During September jthe falling-off in the amount of the permits issued is phenomenal. In this month four different amounts made up a total of only £7. Excluding September, which brings down the average out of all proportion, and makes a contrast expending over several months of little practical interest, ,the figures are : £18,630 for the period April-August, 1921, and £17,119 for the previous six-monthly period, namely, Septem-ber-February (1920-21), This is an increase of more than £ISOO in six months. If individual months are taken in ,the two periods contrasted the latest still has the advantage'in aggregate amount. Instancing this faqt: April, the first month of the more recent period, had a total of £4250 distributed in three amounts of £1750, £ISOO, and £1000; whereas January 1 , which falls in the previous half-yearly period, had a total of £4040, that is a difference of £2lO.

OTHER OUTSTANDNIG MONTHS In January the number of permits was seven, but only three amounts of £1250, £ISOO and £IOOO are significant. The nearest approaches recently to the April tqtal were in July, of 1920, when permits for building were issued to the amount of £4200, and in December of the same year, when the total was £4300, SEPARATE MONTHLY FIGURES. Separate monthly figures are interesting as showing periods of activity and depression, though, of course, the variations are not always a sufficient indication when the divisions are months, but must rather be taken as tendencies more or less pague and liable to be counteracted during succeeding months as the figures will show. In brackets are some of the larger .amounts : 1920, April, £2250 (£950) May £I6OO ; June £llOO ; July £4200, (£I4OO, £1250, £1000) ; August £I2OO (£1000) ; September £2OOO ; October £3019 (£ISOO, £10000) ; November £3140 (£ISOO, £1500) ; December £4300 ((£1350, £1000) ; 1921 : .January £4040 (£ISOO, £1250, £1000) ; February £ll2O ( £1000) ; March ,£2345 (£1000) ; April £5250 (£1750, ,£ISOO, £1000); May £IOO ; June £2900. (£IOOO, £1000); Ju'lv £3900 (£2290, £1000; August £4145 (£IOOO. £1000) ; September £7. GOOD CLASS OF HOUSES, The figures enclosed within brackets are only interesting ao showing the class of houses that are being built, am] when regarded from this point of view it is readily seen that the standard is generally high.