BUILDING COSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 7

BUILDING COSTS.

A FURTHER REDUCTION. FOLLOWS KEEN COMPETITION. (By T3]eerar.h.--Own CnrreSDondeTit.* WELLINGTON, this day. Following on a second reduction in timber prices within a few weeks comes a welcome announcement from Wellington brickmakere of a reduction equal to 12/ per thousand when cash discount i<. included. Building , is stagnant in Wellington, and there is keen competition for the smallest jobs, such ac etcratione to old houses, a very general practice since building became expensive. It is believed, now wages, bricks, and timi ber are down, a revival in building will ' commence. The price of building bricks is reduced from £5 to £4 10/ per 1000, ' less 5 per cent discount for payment not later than the 20th of the month following delivery, or £4 5/6 net; seeond-clase bricks, chimneys, and clinkers have been similarly reduced", and the price of these i* now 'C 4, less 5 per cent, or a net price of £3 W. i The chairman of the Wellington Brickmakers' Association stated that while the previous reduction of 10/ per 1000 more than covered reductions that had been elfected in the cost of production lup to date, through better results from labour and more n'liahle supplies of coal, the decision to make this further reduci tion had been come to on account of a desire on the part of manufacturers to stimulate the demand, particularly to induce those buildiflst dwellings to substitute brick for wood. The recent disastrous fire in Wellington pointed to the desirability of a change in this d : rection. While the" price at which they had agreed to cell was actually below the cost of production they were hopeful that when the Court's pronouncement on the cost of living was made effective running costs of the works for labour, ; cost of coal, freight, and other charges I would be so far reduced as to enable them to carry on their business without loss.