WORK FOR MANY ARTISANS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20587, 1 July 1932, Page 6

WORK FOR MANY ARTISANS.

MATERIALS FOR BUILDING. It is not generally realised that the erection of a building in Christchurch —even comparatively small in size—can mean work for artisans far over-, seas, so wide are the resources upon which the builder can call in his search for materials. For instance the new rest rooms represent the work of men not only in various parts of New Zealand, but Australia, England, and America. An analysis of the specifications and the materials, together with the origin of the latter, shows that the cement according to the specifications, had to be New Zealand or English, and actually New Zealand cement was used. The sand to mix with it for the concreting was available near at hand, of course, but the steel framework, now

artisans made the furniture and some of the furnishings, the rest coming from England. England, too, had the job of providing the switchboards, fuses, and pendants, and the finishing material for the walls. The pressed cement ornaments, art plaster work, fibrous plaster cornice, and the automatic stoker were all produced by Christchurch workmen, but the tiles for the dadoes and the boiler and radiators are English-made. The Dominion shared with England the enamel, varnish, and French polishing. Spreading th« Benefit. Thus, not only do the men actually employed in producing all these varied materials benefit, in some degree, from building work in Christchurch, but transport workers, the crews of trains and steamers, also receive a share of the business. The plumbing work was carried out by the Walton Plumbing Co., heating by Vale and Co., Ltd., "Certainteed'*' roofing and all cork flooring by John Chambers and Son, Ltd., glazing and mirrors by Andrews, Lees, Ltd., painting by T. H. Davies and Co.. chromium plating by Armstrong and Farr, brass grilles, etc., by Toomey and Co., and rubber treads by the North British Rubber Co. >