BUILDING TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 18832, 27 May 1920, Page 5

BUILDING TRADE

SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS

(Special to Jlie Times.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 26

Owing to the transport troubles, local builders say that the Government’s decision to enforce the regulat'/w restricting large building contracts will not affect operations to any great extent, because there is no material available for carrying out big works. “I could not go out now and fill a dray load of decent timber for £500,” said the head of a leading Christchurch building firm to-day, “but there is any amount of timber on the West Coast. The trouble seems to be to get it here. Mr Massey says that the amount going to Australia is small. Well, I know of two men, agents of Australian firms, who are operating steadily on the Vv cst Coast filling orders and arranging shipments. Sir Massey has also referred to the increasing quantities of timber sent to various parts of New Zealand. Well, very little is coming to Christchurch.” “'There is something else facing us if my judgment is correct,” added this builder. ‘T cannot see how the men will be kept employed when we come to the last of the seasoned timber. Everything coming in now is dripping wet, and the yards are all but empty. I don’t predict a depression, but the position will be hard for some.”