AT LOW LEVEL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 4

AT LOW LEVEL.

INDUSTRY IN UNITED STATES. Master builders in Christchurch and their employees should congratulate themselves on the fact that the industry here shows no sighs of touching the low level it lias reached in the United States. The New York "Herald-Tribune" states:— Labour conditions in the building industries during May and June were not favourable. Statistics compiled by a' local mortgage bank indicate that during this period 313,500 of the 850,000 building trades mechanics in the American Federation of Labour were unemployed. • Weakness in the building materials markets was evidenced in Juno by further declines in prices. Some of the more important local market declines were reported in Portland cement in Kansas City and New York; common brick in St. Louis and Boston; structural steel shapes in Dallas and Pittsburgh ; concrete blocks in Minneapolis and St. Louis, and lumber in Baltimore, s Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Seattle. There were a few advances recorded in prices of materials, but these advances took place in crushed stone and gravel, the firmness being due to demand for these materials for road paving and public construction. BUILDING BAROMETER. RETURNS FOR AUGUST. Compared with the total for the first eight months of last year, the value of building construction authorised by the Christchurch City Council from December 31st to August 31st shows a decrease of £134,205. . Last month permits were issued for only £31,531 worth of work, as compared with £66,140 worth in Augus>, 1929. Statistics for the first flight months of each year are as follows: '1929. 1930. £ £ January 95,860 91,022 February 48,056 '48,463 March 64,511 02,844 April 63,996 48,960 May 70,283 39,279 June 75,182 43,930 July 72,200 56,794 August 66,140 31,531 Totals £557,028 £422,823 The following are the details for the seven wards: — 1929. 1930. £ £ Central, Inner Area 11,839 6,350 Central, Outer Area 8,076 229 St. Albans 8,377 7,617 Sydenham 11,432 6,388 Linwood ... ... 9,320 6,116 Sprevdon ... ... 8,445 3.405 Woolston 8,651 2,426 £66,140 31^31