Minister Sees Decline in Building Costs

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 6

Minister Sees Decline in Building Costs

(Special to “Argus.”) WELLINGTON, October 1.

He hoped to publish from now on examples of housing contracts and tenders approved, said, the Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Rehabilitation Council. The examples would cover, on a cost per foot basis, the highest and lowest tenders accepted for houses of approved standard built in different centres under the rehabilitation housing loan scheme. This would enable the public to be kept informed of trends in hous-build-ing prices and to make comparisons. These would show that in certain districts houses were built for an average of 33s a foot, while in other districts, such as Auckland and Wellington, the costs were much higher. He was of the opinion that building costs were coming down. As an example recent reports from Christchurch showed that a number of tenders for quite suitable homes were under £1,500. He himself knew of many ex-servicemen who were getting their homes built within the rehabilitation loan limits.

The timber supply position was improving every day, and with the exception of certain dressing grades timber was fairly freely available. As a result of restrictions for timber usage were gradually disappearing altogether. The supply of other materials was also improving, except of nails which were still difficult to obtain as was also wire of all »kinds.