BUILDING COSTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 116, 2 June 1937, Page 9

BUILDING COSTS

Auckland Contractors Say Trade is Slack MANY CARPENTERS IDLE Anarfc from the houses heing built at Orakei under the Goverament's honwng scheme, the building trade, aa far as the construction of dwellings is coueerned, is slack in the Aiickland inelropolitan area, and the secretary of - the Carpenters' Union, Mr J. GK Kennorley, reports that approximately 200 members of his union aTe unemployed One builder said the other day that up to reeently he bad been doing a numbef of jobs simultaneously, but tliey had all been completed with the exception of one, and when work was fmished tkere lio would take no more contracts, as conditions were too hard. "I would be better offi on wages,' he said. He said he could show figures to prove that tkree years ago he was building five-roomed houses at from £400 to £425, while to-day he could not do tlie same job under £750. ' ' Wlien 1 quote prospectiye purchasers such a iigure they look aghast," he said. Everybody appears to be waiting to receive one of the State houses,". said another builder. "It's just a shame how many will be disappointed. '.'They are all living in hopes, but the nmber of houses that will be available for the public . under the housiftg scheme will not be nearly sufiicient to meet requirements. People who are not contemplating a State house are holding off, however, as they are cur . ious to see what the dwellings will be like at the price they are being constructed for before committing themselves for their own particular requirements. ' '

A contractor who formerly built a large number of suburban homes naid that not only had the price of materials risen considerably but the market was unstable. ISTobodv knew ft'tm day to dsy what the price of any commodity would be. He, in cornmon with other bailders approached, spoke of what they terme'd the restrictive legislation of the Goyernment. Fares had to be paid to and from jol?s and a special uemit ■ applied for if a man were requirqd .to. w.ork. On a Saturday. Tho i'ormer 48-hour week had been reduced to 44 and then to 40. "And oue wonders why building prices are high," he added. "The building trade has been disturbed considerably .by the Governrnont 's housing scheme, ' ' commented the representative of a business concern specialising in building materials. "Everything was going on smoothly until the Government came into the picture," he said. "A standard is now being set, and it is only natural that people wisli to see what the State houses are like before they go in for individual purchases. Others cofntemplating building a home are holding off because they see that the workersi •vyhom the Government set out to help will. be unable to pay the rents demanclcd. " , |,