COST OF MATERIALS 25 PER CENT. HIGHER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 136, 25 June 1937, Page 9

COST OF MATERIALS 25 PER CENT. HIGHER

-Press Association. >

(By Teleerunh-

GISBORNE, Last Night. The repprt of Mr. Lee, Under-Secro-tary for Finance; in connection with State houses in which he drew attenttfoh to the high priCe of tenders in Gisborne as compared with other towus, was refefrtd to master buildhra ih Gisborne. Mr, Lee states that for one design of house the prices werte: Lower Hutt, £1017; Invercargill, £1018; Hastings, £1112; Gisborne, £1388; and said there was no justification for the wide disparity in prices, and the difference of £370 in Gisborne was astbundihg. Builders in Gisborne are qf opinion that Mr. Lee failed to realise that the cost of materidls- here #as excfessive COmpared With Other places, being in the vicinity of 25 per cent, higher. Bricks wdre obtainable in Aucklahd at £4 15s, but the cost in Gisborne Was £7 15s. Timber Was m shott Siipplyand mostly had to come f rm the WeSt Coast of the South Island and would be consoquChtly much dehrer. Ih Rotorua totara timbfer cost 24s upWards but for the same timber in Gisboime the Cost was abqut 60$. Oement was another item which cost much maro" ih Gisborhe than in other parts. It was suggested that a better course would havo iieen for Mr. Lee to visit Gisbprno and in. vOstigate the positipn bhi'ora making such comment in the public ^resi.