BUILDERS' ALARM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 6

BUILDERS' ALARM

GOVERNMENT ORDER

PUBLIC "ULTIMATE LOSER"

The following statement on building costs and the new Defence Building Order has been made bj r the Auckland Builders and Contractors' Association of Employers:—

"An association such as the Auckland Master Builders' Association, ' comprising many members, has of necessity no direct political opinimi, but is very much concerned with the welfare, of all builders and those associated with the building industry, whether as sub-contractors, suppliers, or workers. It is also gravely concerned that the building public, who become the customers of the builders, receive a fair and equitable deal, for without the customer the business of the builder and supplier must ultimately cease. "The whole industry—suppliers, builders, sub-contractors and workmen—has done everything ptpssible, even to sinking individuality, to assist' the Government in its huge defence construction programme. As a means to an end the various defence building orders were accepted and acted upon, but it was never anticipated that these regulations and orders would be carried on after the completion of the defence programme, and all concerned were looking forward to the relaxation of the regulations. "If the new Defence Building Order comes into being it can only be at the expense of those requiring work done in the way of renovations, alterations or the building of houses and other structures, for the very considerable increased costs must be passed on, and the ultimate loser must, of course, be the general public."