BUILDING COSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 12

BUILDING COSTS.

CERTAIN TO RISE. EFFECTS OF 40-HOUR WEEK. SKILLED HANDS IN DEMAND. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDEST, this day. Tho view that a slowing up of work and substantially increased costs ill the bniWug industry will result. fro;n the introduction of the 40-hour week was expressed by Mr. James Fletcher, managing director of the Fletcher Construction Company, Limited, which has the contract for the erection of the new Dunedin Post Office.

Mr. Fletcher said that there was no question that one of the industries, which would lie brought under the new legislation would be the building trade. Unquestionably this would mean a general slowing-up of building operations, and there was a scarcity- of skilled labour at present, more particularly among bricklayers and joiners. One of the greatest problems facing those engaged in the building industry ■was that of apprenticeship. Mr. Fletcher said that some radical changes were required to increase the facilities for the training of boys. In the last four years only about 20 boys had been trained in the industry over the whole of the Dominion, whereas in normal times there would have been hundreds. That, combined with the retirement of men who had passed the age when thev were fit for work, had ergated a shortage of skilled men, •"-■

It was certain that tlfe application of the 40-hour week to the industry, as well as to those industries from which its supplies were drawn, would result in a substantial increase in the cost of building.

Another builder said the introduction of the 40-hour week must put up cost of the building. Wages would increase 10 per cent, and that will apply not only to builders' employees, hut to sawmilling and cement workers as well. Althoxigh some materials would not increase in price all New Zealand materials would go up. He could not give an accurate estimate as to how much building costs would be increased, as there was also the possibility of a change in the wage rates of building trade workers, but ho thought it was quite possible the cost of building would he increased in the near future by at least 8 per cent, but not more than 10 per cent. He agreed that the 40-hour week must come in the building industry. Its introduction was not opposed- by building contractors, with the exception of those- builders who were committed to long term contracts. He recalled that before the introduction of machinery into drainlaying 125 men had been required for a job that now could take only 25 men.

The 40-hour week would do something to absorb men who had been ousted by machinery, Tmt he believed that even shorter working hours would have to be worked before a proper balance could be obtained.