GRAVE POSITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 86, 22 January 1946, Page 3

GRAVE POSITION

HOUSING IN AUSTRALIA SHORTAGES OF MATERIAL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, Jan. 21. Australians are only just beginning to realise the gravity of 1 lie housing situation throughout the Commonwealth. The fact is that material shortages are paralysing construction and preventing any possible solution of the position. Builders and those wanting houses are apt to blame recent power stoppages for all their troubles but the root of the matter goes far deeper than that. It appears that the Government housing- programme has been handicapped since its inception by shortages and compromises. The Minister for Housing, Mr H. P. Lazzarini, stated recently that between April, 1944, and December, 1945, a period of 21 months, 3077 homes were built under the scheme. This is not an impressive total when considered in comparison with New Zealand’s effort during those months. It appears that during the war years Australia allowed the building of private homes to become practically stationary. The same position applied in State and private building with population increases always exerting pressure on the available accommodation. Two factors occurring within the last few months have brought the problem to a head. One was the power strike and the'other was, and is, the steady flow of servicemen back to civilian life. Many of these men entered the Navy, Army and Air Force as mere hoys who were still living with their parents. They leave the Armed Services eager to settle down and with the opportunity of obtaining a building loan on similar terms as apply to exservicemen in New Zealand. But their loan facilities and building permits are of little avail nowadays. With everything arranged as regards finance and even land they are still in for a long wait. Scant Supplies

Just how long that wait is likely to be indicated by a' survey of the position carried out by the president of the Master Builders’ Association, Mr C. G. E. Paynter. It reveals that would-be home builders can expect no bricks for six to 12 months, no tiles for three to eight months, no gas stoves for six months and no electric ranges at all. Baths, basins and sipks are delayed in delivery at least three months. There are no “hails or timber whatever. The Housing Commission and its contractors are absorbing most of the available material, thus increasing' the difficulties of the private builder. This is particularly true concerning timber, electric stoves and certain gas stoves which are practically unobtainable by a private contractor. In face of the large and long-term orders offered by the Commission, hundreds of unorganised master builders wishing to build private homes have great difficulty in getting their orders placed and delivered. Timber is short because of the lack of labour at the mills and transport hold-ups. Though flooring is virtually unobtainable, millions of feet of imported Oregon in city yards finds no buyer because, owing to the customs duty it costs 86s per 100 feet compared with 50s for hardwood. A reduction of the duty is regarded by the building trade as a necessity. It is in these unpromising circumstances that the building industry, is attempting to catch up on a situation which has been allowed to grow steadily worse during the war. years. A policy of steady building in preparation for an emergency might have offset the trouble to a great extent, but now no system that can he devised adds up to a lasting solution. In the meantime ex-servicemen and their families are being asked to return to Army huts hastily converted to provide some of the amenities of civilian life .