BUILDING IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 3

BUILDING IN N.Z.

INCREASED VALUE OF PERMITS CHRISTCHURCH SECOND ON LIST The value of building permits issued n New Zealand in 1945-46 (£16,944,395) showed an increase of £5,001,866, or 41.9 per cent, over the 1944-45 figure, and an increase of £4,817,937 (39.7 per cent.) compared with the pre-war year 1938-39. “It would appear, however, that the latter increase has been brought about by increased costs, as the number of new Swelling permits issued in 1945-46 was 157 less than in 1938-39. whereas the /alue represented was greater to the extent of £3,693,091,” comments the Abstract of Statistics. Compared with 1944-45, permits for the erection of new dwellings issued n 1945-46 showed an increase of 1038 in number and £3,283,699 in value, while other new buildings increased by 228 in number and £1,440,342 in value. The value of alterations and idditiong included in the 1945-46 figures also exceeded the corresponding amount for 1944-45, the difference amounting to £277,825, but it was slightly below that of 1943-44, in which year alterations and additions were particularly heavy owing to earthquake damage. Auckland city, with a total value for all buildings of £1,903,270, occupied the leading position in 1945-46, followed by Christchurch city, £1,454,246; Lower Hutt city, £1,189,580; Wellington city. £1,040,253; and Dunedin city, £835,446. Of the 7736 dwelling permits issued in 1945-46, 2623 were in respect of units commenced by the Housing Construction Branch of the Public Works Department. The corresponding number for 1944-45 was 3194. and for 193839. 343?. The following table gives particulars of the number of dwelling permits for each year from 1936-37 onwards, the number of dwelling units commenced by the Housing Construction Branch under the Government’s present housing scheme, which came into operation in March. 1937, being shown in paren-thesis:—l936-37 4555 (22). 1937-38 6043 (1890), 1938-39 8093 (3432), 1939-40 8086 (3840). 1940-41 7147 (3486), 1941-42 5503 (2546). 1942-43 863 (283), 1943-44 3604 (1845), 1944-45 6698 (3194). 1945-46 7736 (2623). “Building operations in the year 1942-43 fell to a record low level, the lowest, in fact, of the 24 years for which figures are available,” says the Abstract. “In the fourth year of war it was inevitable that shortages would exist in manpower and materials. This factor was greatly accentuated by large-scale diversions to defence construction consequent upon the entry of Japan into the war towards the end of 1941. Serious earthquakes in June and August. 1942, added to the difficulties in some areas by diversion of available resources to urgent repair and demolition work. With the completion of the major portion of the defence programme a distinct revival of civil building (Governmental and private) became manifest towards the middle of 1943, and this has since been maintained and expanded. Expansion, however, has been restricted by shortages of skilled labour and many essential building materials.”