Editorial Comment

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 2, 1 October 1918, Page 325

Editorial Comment

Some idea of Great Britain’s contemplated industrial and social activities after the war may be gathered, from the statement in the The Times, London, that the programme of the Local Government Board Committee includes the building of 300,000 houses. The “Times” says; —“Whether this substantial measure is considered from the point of view of public health or of industry, it is essentially a reproductive undertaking. It needs little acquaintance with the lives of those who are confined to overcrowded houses to realise that they, and particularly their children, are subject to a heavy handicap, physical as well as moral and aesthetic. To-day the evolutions of the life of a man or a child are emerging from academic isolation. The actual figure indeed at which the value of a man’s life to the country should be assessed has not attracted unusual attention; but the fact that the value, whatever it may be, as a national asset, has been driven home to the least imaginative minds.” The obvious deductions from this newspaper’s statements and comments is that a far-reaching movement is being made at last, to house England’s workers in roomy and healthful buildings. In preparing its building programme, the Committee referred to has the assistance of a Research Committee, whose duty it is to inquire into the suitability of various building materials from the points of view of economy, health and durability. With so vast an enterprise in hand, such investigations will be paid for in immediate monetary saving, in the increased health, and consequent increased efficiency of the inmates, and in the prolonged life and low repair bills of the houses. The methods of building also, are being made the subject of inquiry, with the same objects in view. The results of this research when available, should be of immense value to New Zealanders. In this country an active building programme must be undertaken as soon as possible. Not only are more

Healthful Buildings.

houses required for the present inhabitants of the country, but the returning troops and inevitable but none the less welcome influx of immigrants will make heavy demands upon the existing housing accommodation. This is a matter of Government as well as private concern, and no doubt the question is being seriously considered in the proper quarters.

A recent message from Australia reported that men were making much money by turning over the old garbage tips of Sydney and Melbourne, and unearthing broken glass and kerosene tins, which they sold to the glass factories and iron-works. These disused tips of the large Australian cities cover many acres, and so keen was the search for these precious things, that the Councils concerned issued “miners’ rights” to certain defined areas, to individuals anxious to dig. It is perhaps not recognised by New Zealanders who smiled at this news, that the Commonwealth is making immense strides as a manufacturing country, and she is in the position of still retaining a large proportion of her male workers, in spite of the war’s demands. The iron-mills of Otago are clamouring for iron, and there are millions of iron tins lying in the Jam-tin Gullies of every town. But New Zealand has not the man-power to gather them. Australia in collecting these is carrying on an industry which was formerly conducted by the Germans in Australia. By every ship of the North German Lloyds and the German-Australian lines, bale after bale of pressed kerosene tins were shipped. They were simply dumped, as wool is, into a compact mass and baled. In Germany tin and solder was melted off for spelter and the iron used to make machinery and guns. In a limited degree we understand that old kerosene and petrol tins are gathered and used by iron-mills in New Zealand. But the widespread extension of this practice would mean a greatly increased output in iron goods from the local mills. Glass and other waste has a value too nowadays. Since the war has made old ships valuable enough to put new machinery into them it is not surprising that there is money in garbage tips, were there men and boys enough in New Zealand to dig for it. But the war has called them to sterner work

Money in Garbage.

The impression which was gaining ground that the price of cement was unduly high in New Zealand, would seem to have been removed in a decided manner. Since Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, asked for an investigation of the position by the Board of .Trade, shareholders of a large company, the Dominion Portland Cement Company, have applied/tp the Supreme Court for a compulsory wiiiding-ifp. This fact adds additional interest to the report*of the Board of Trade, in the course of which it. was held that the increase of the price of cement to 96/ T a ton was not unreasonable. The report stated that before the war the average price

Price of Cement.

of cement to the user was about 75/- a ton in Auckland, and it was emphasised that this price was arrived at by acute consumption. At that time, in addition to companies in active operation, a new company had large cement works in course of erection, and this company, after arranging for a capital of about £467,000, went into liquidation before the works were completed. Two other companies in the North Island had expended £300,000 altogether in plant and machinery. This went to show that a very large capital was sunk in cement works. And in addition to these North Island companies, a large amount of capital was invested in cement works in the South Island. The position to-day was that the existing works were capable of producing many more times the quantity of cement that was required at present. This state of things had been caused by the falling-off in the building trade. As a result, many of the cement-working plants were not working to their full capacity. As well as this, rawmaterials used had increased in price, and the cost of production had increased accordingly. In expressing the opinion that the increase was justified the Board mentioned that it compared well with that of the price in Australia, namely, about 99/- a ton. Though the. Board in its report did not venture to prophesy, there can be little doubt, that when the destruction wrought by the present war comes to be repaired, and the immense output which will take the place of all kinds of building materials, makes it possible for New Zealand to have at least a quota of iron and other much-needed items, there will be a brisker building programme in this country. This should make the market for cement a much better one, and the companies which are hanging on and doing their best in adverse circumstances will reap their share of the prosperity. As already mentioned in these columns the probability of such building activity may be taken as a certainty, provided the National Government takes steps to secure supplies of essential materials which are not at present manufactured in New Zealand.

The importance of the timber milling industry in New Zealand has prompted us to include a special sawmilling section in “N.Z. Building Progress” commencing with this issue. This section will be conducted under the direction of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association (Incorporated) and will be edited by Mr. W. T. Irvine, secretary of the Association. All matter intended for publication under this heading should be sent to Mr. Irvine at his Palmerston address (Box 328) not later than the 20th of each month for publication in the succeeding monthly issue. Contributors are asked to note that this address is more convenient than Mr. Irvine’s Taihapc address, as it enables him to deal with matters by telephone communication with Wellington, promptly. In this issue we publish the inaugural comments of the President of the Association. Succeeding issues of “Building Progress” will include in the new section other matter of a highly interesting nature.

Federated Sawmill