BEARING FRUIT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20610, 28 July 1932, Page 4

BEARING FRUIT.

THE BUILDING CAMPAIGN. ENQUIRIES FROM MANY SOURCES. As a direct result of the activities of tho recently-formed Allied Building Interests of Canterbury, whose object is to stimulate interest in all forms of building work, enquiries regarding various jobs, involving over £70,000, have been made at headquarters during the past three 'weeks. This sum includes £4945, which represents enquiries made so far this week. It does not follow that all of the work will be put in hand immediately, but the fact that the information is being sought indicates that there is a decided upward trend in the industry. Included among proposals • brought under tho notice of tho organisation yesterday were the erection of four houses, a small church, farm buildings and house and many smaller renovation jobs. Thus, people who have heretofore held up their building work, are taking advantage of the Government subsidy and the builders of tho City are already looking forward to a revival of trade, which will not be confined to the builder alone, but will include tho many sub-contractors who enter the constructional sphere. Movement in Aufetralia. N'ew Zealand is not alone in the campaign to increase activity in the building trade. Ways and means of stimulating interest in construction, renovation, and general repair work are being considered by Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland interests. The schemes are not unlike that initiated in Christchurcli by the Allied building interests and planned by a similar organisation in Wellington. In New Zealand, however, the movements have the Government subsidy, which is a distinct advantage. Ju Australia, as in New Zealand, it is being recognised with increasing clarity that the building industry in all its branches provides probably the largest single potential avenue of employment in the community. lu building a house the buyer calls to his aid upwards of a dozen separate trades or industries. His money is not invested in ono corner; instead it is widely distributed and its benefits are shared by many. The formation of the Queensland Building'lndustry Congress some weeks ago was a tacit recognition by all parties to the industry that, after nearly three years of trade stagnation, the time had arrived for concerted action. Work Overdue. The men prominent in the movement are arming themselves with data to show that jobs requiring the services of a small army of men now unemployed urgently require attention. In many cases, thoy declare, tho time for tho erection of new (and modern) buildings is overdue, and old buildings cry aloud for overhaul, ronovation, or mere repairs. Until tho details are placod before the Premier the full scope of tho Queensland scheme is not being divulged to the public, but it is certain that its success depends upon tho willingness of the Government, financial institutions, and tlioso with capital to allow credit to flow through the channels of building and real ostatc. All sections of the community, it is argued, will benefit. Men organising the movement have cited numbers of instances" of men willing to invest very considerably at the first sign of returning confidence.

Co-operation of the Public. "The courage of a few 'ill it bold policy would be infectious, and the movement would lmvc a 'snowball' effect," states the Brisbane "Courier." "Those persons wlio, through force of circumstances, havo been forced to delay the erection or repair of homes may take heart, an the revival movement aims to assist them. Officials afifk the public to survey their requirements, and then look for ways and means. If this were done generally, the success of the revival would bo more tha* half achieved." The president of the New South AVales Master Builders' Association stated recently that his association, in conjunction with the Institute of Architects, would immediately consider the best means for tlio rehabilitation of the building and allied industries. Ho quoted figures to show that 90 per cont. of the skilled workers in the building trades in New South "Wales wero unemployed. Recent reports from architects showed that instructions to proceed with the preparation of plana - and specifications for new works, which had been held in abeyance for- a year, were being revived by the principals to sucli an extent that it was expected contracts for £1,000,000 or over would bo let in Sydney within the next few months. A NEW CHURCH. STRUCTURE AT WOODEND. A now St. Barnabas' Church is to be built at Woodend on the site occupied by the old oue, which was demolished a few years ago. The structure, which will bo seen from the Main North road, will be in reinforced concrete, with accommodation for 100 parishioners. Tho use of concrete will neeessita'to a simple form-work, in which case tho architect will have to rely chiefly on proportion for effect. Tenders will be received up till noon on August 12th at the office of the architect, Mr Cecil Wood, where plans and specifications may bo seen. • PAINTED WALLS. Some of the colour schemes used in London are really enchanting, states an English writer. In one home a room has dull gilt walls and the furnitmo is in pinkish sycamore wood, mid tho beds have quilts and pillow covers of stitched rose-coloured taffeta. Walls painted with original designs have taken the place of plain* walls, or .of wallpaper, to a great extent, and panels, each painted with a separate tree, in, which birds are roasting in the branches, break up the monotony of a long corridor. Wireless licenses in Britain totalled up to 3,0*28,186 at the end of March. 1931, in addition to the 21,304. free licenses issued to blind listeners.