HOME MODERNISING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 14

HOME MODERNISING.

AUCKLAND SOCIETY'S SCHEME OPERATIONS SUSPENDED. POSSIBILITY OF REVIVAL. . the Modernising of Buildings Promotion Society for the Relief of Unemployment (Inc.), which was formed-in August of last year, has suspended its operations, and its architect, Mr. L. E. Brookeiyhas returned to private practice. In announcing its decision to suspend the operations of the society, the executive stated that it regretted the step, as the volume of business passing through the society's bureau undoubtedly justified the expenditure on the scheme. "Unfortunately, however, only a small circle of merchants and interested parties could be induced to support financially the society, and while the percentage of the cost of operating to the total value of the work obtained is very small, the percentage of the cost to the business resulting to the small circle of contributors is very high,-and they do not feel justified in carrying on a scheme indefinitely with the greater part of the benefits going to non-contributing competitors. "The society has been of inestimable value to the public, who have been able to obtain expert advice concerning' projected work, and this advice has in most cases resulted in a better class of work being done than would otherwise have been the case. It is the belief of the majority of those who have been closely associated with the society that in the very near future the scheme will be revived in a modified form." The expenditure on the scheme amounted to £870, and the value of the work which passed through the bureau was £13,000. In addition" to the work actually handled by the society's architect, modernising work amounting to several thousand pounds is definitely known to have been ■■;carried out privately as a result of the society's propaganda, and if the value of this work was , included in the figure abovementioned, the proportion of expenditure to value of work would be about 3 per cent. When the society was launched, with a. strong committee behind it, it was felt that Auckland presented wonderful scope for activity along the line* of homo modernisation, as there were hundreds of buildings, it was submitted, which were unsightly, uncomfortable and unprofitable. Writing to the Chamber of Commerce on the subject an advocate of the scheme stated that most estate agents said they could sell or let modern houses, but old-fashioned premises were a drug on the market. It was, therefore, evident that the time was ripe to promote a modernisation scheme which would: (1) Convert dead -capital into visible assets; (2) considerably add to the comfort and appearance of renovated buildings; (3) provide a much desired impetus to professions connected with the building trade: (4) materially assis't towards the relief of unemployment; and (5) impart a greater atmosphere of progress, increased values, architectural beauty and civic pride in the localities affected.