THE TIMBER TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1920, Page 1

THE TIMBER TRADE

PRICES STILL RISING. ' vs'-'-r j (Lyttelton Times.)’: > i There' has been Another rise in the cost of building timber and the day of cheaper?-'houses seems further off than ever. The latest quotation list inspected recently shows that merchants have put another Is on every 100 superficial feet of ordinary timber, Is od on halfinch lining, Is 3d on flooring, Is 9d on T, and G v lining, und Is on selected timber. > This, according to one. builder makes -2.0 per cent increase in the past six months, and well over 100 per cent since 1914. “ I see noychance whatever of reducing the cost of 'building houses,” said the builder. Like 'other notifications’the latest says at"tlie;foot, ‘subject to alteration without-; further notice.’ That means often that when-we are half-way through a contract we have (.o pay higher for the balance of the necessary timber supplies'. Once we could be sure of getting through the job at the‘stipulated:price. The present state of affairs hinders trade all round and keeps houses short.” A house which cost 11750 to erect six years ago now. means', an expenditure of between £I3OO and £I6OO, according to location. A striking example of the increases in timber, was given by a contractor, who furnished details .as follows regarding an estimate for 100 links of- fencing, rimu rails, black pine posts and halfinch red pine boards:— . On June 18th, 1920, he contracted to fin the job for £IP 10s. On October 4th for 1 £l3 14s. On October 22nd for £l4 2s. The following comparative table shows how material has gone up in price : 1914. 1920. " “ £ s. d. £ s. d. Timber, per 100 sup. feet—Ord. build- *. ing rimu 013 3 1 14 0 Tongued & groov- . ed 1ining........... 018 6 2 7 3 Clean heart rimu -1 7 6 2 15 3 Clean heart mfttai flooring & weather boards 1 8 6 2 19 0 Clean heart totara 1 10 6 3 5 0 Bricks, per 1000 2 12 6 5 2 0 Cement, per ton, 16 - bag to ton 3 8 0 7 13 0 Roofing iron, per ton a 20 0 070 ! 0 0 Nails, per tonl4 0 0 52 10 0 Though the m'ost startling l rises have occurred in roofing iron and nails, the cost of these articles* is now beginning to steady. A few months ago iron was £75. Now it is down to £7O in some centres. Against that, cement is. dearei than ever, and still scarce. Bricks are shown as costing £5 2s a thousand, but the price delivered in the city is £5 Bs. ' ' The Wages Sheet. Labour adds its quota to the increased outlay:— - 1914. 1920. Carpenters, per hour 1 0 2 6 Carpenters’ labourers 1 2 1 10 Bricklayers 13 2 0 Briklayers’ labourers 13 2 0 Plasterers 1 H 2 6 Builders say that the supply of timber continues to be far short of the demand. The Board of Trade, it is announced, is taking every possible care to ensure that building timber is restricted for essential purposes and regulations are being strictly enforced. “ Here and there,” says a recent official statement, “ people may become a little impatient, but it has to be remembered that the position is abnormal. Until the country overtakes the arrears caused by the years, of war and the new demand for essential ..buildings required by many returned soldiers, there will be difficulties, but relief to the community must come if the increased rate of production is maintained.”