ENCOURAGEMENT TO BUILD.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 19 August 1932, Page 15

ENCOURAGEMENT TO BUILD.

BENEFIT OF LOW COSTS.

USE OF SUBSIDY SCHEME.

The Allied Building Interests of Canterbury, formed in Christchurch recently, is continuing its campaign of urging the public to take advantage of the present low prices of building materials to carry out building and alteration work now.

The secretary, Mr W. H. Winsor, stated yesterday that by puttißg work in hand now the building owner would give employment at their usual work to tradesmen now idle or iu pick and shovel jobs. Moreover, they would assist to keep money circulating and retain the assistants iu offices, shops, yards, or factories of sawmillers, timber, hardware, oil and colour shops, plumbers, electricians, and furnishero' factories, and a host of others.

To-day, he said, timber could be procured at its lowest price since 1914 and at its best in quantity, qualitj', aud seasoning. The timbor, owing to modern grading, Wijs of a quality to suit all purses and tastes. It was grown in New Zealand forests, cut by New Zealand workmen, freighted on State railways, fabricated in local mills and factories. Tho aggregate drop in the price of materials was at least 28 per cent, on the costs in 1928. The institution of tho Government No. 10 Scheme could make an additional reduction in cost (if made use of to its utmost capacity) of a further 9 per cent. It was encouraging to know that there was a distinctly improved movement in regard to building enquiries as reported by the travelling representatives of many of the supply firms. In addition, the number of enquiries for information on the subsidy scheme showed no sign of falling off. It was hoped to be able to report shortly that arrangements had been completed for the giving of advice and information of a definite character to those desiring financial assistance. The continuance of the present low cost of building was detrimental to tho permanent well-being of the community, and the sooner normal times returned the sooner would the present low level prices be increased considerably.