NEW HOUSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1920, Page 5

NEW HOUSES.

NEW PLYMOUTH RECORD. MARKED BUILDING ACTIVITY. RAPID GROWTH OF THE TOWN. Despite the scarcity of materials and delays caused during the building operations, houses are being erected in New Plymouth at a greater rate than hitherto, a comparison of the figures for the April-May-June quarter, as taken from the list of permits issued by the Borough Council, showing that the number of new residential buildings under way tli is year easily eclipses the totals for the corresponding periods of previous years. The figure? show:— £ 1916 ... ... 8830 1917 5040 , 1918 •'*>..£,•« 3820 1919 0505 1920 28,505 Increased cost of materials, of course, accounts for a proportion of the bigger values, but the actual number of houses for the "latest three monthly period was thirty-five, compared with thirteen last year, and varying smaller numbers in the other years under review. Notwithstanding this progress, tho demand is as yet far from satisfied, for there is gome leeway to make up to balance the falling off in the war period, and important factor is the rapidly-Increasing growth of New Plymouth. Prospects of improvements as far as materials are concerned are rather vague, but it is possible that the Dominion Conference of building trade representatives, which assembles in Chrlßtchurch next month, may attempt to evolve a solution, but whether in' the direction of recommending to the Government some scheme of allotting of j supplies or other measures, is problematical. • Speaking of the position In New Plymouth to a Daily News reporter yesterday, Inspector Day expressed the opinion that a better type of house is "being evolved, specially with regard to facilitating the duties of the housewife, and such arrangements were noticed by him in sevoral five and six-roomed dwellings recently under n'otiafe. " A feat ture resulting froin the .present scarcity of houses has also occurred in the tise of outhousSf! which are occupied as a habitation preparatory to the house proper being built. In a number of cases persons who had sections of land available, but were not In position to have a house erected, have proceeded with the appurtenances, such as washhouse, bathroom, and kitchen, which with a little manipulation have been adapted for living quarters till' silkh time as the householder is in a position to complete the building. , This can be, 'and is done only in the case of families of one or two children, but is a factor in helping to make existing accommodation suffice.