U.S. BUILDING EFFICIENCY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 9

U.S. BUILDING EFFICIENCY

OUTPUT RATE 50 PER CENT. ABOVE BRITAIN

COSTS ALSO HIGHER Striking differences between the British and American building industries are revealed in the report of the United Kingdom productivity team which was published in London this month by . the Anglo-American Council on Productivity. During its six weeks’ tour the team found that the output a man-hour on similar site operations is about 50 per cent, higher in the United States than in the United Kingdom. This Is due primarily to the greater speed at which operatives work and. the ready supply of materials to craftsmen. At the same time the report calculates that at the old rate of exchange of four dollars to the £, costs vary, according to the type of building, from about 55 per cent, to 80 per cent, above those in Britain. The team endorses the view expressed in the report of the Building Industry Working Party that under conditions of full employment it is essential to find some effective system of incentives. The report declares that the British operative must, like the American, realise that his standard of living is linked to the efficiency of the industry and depends on his personal contribution. The argument that the high wage rates in the United States are made necessary by the high cost of living is described as an over- i statement. The proportion of wages spent on necessaries is lower and the general standard of living considerably higher in . America than in Britain. ' Need for Incentives The main impression, says the “Finan- 1 cial Times,’’ London, which members of ’ the team brought back from their tour, was that of the spirit of initiative and: co-operation which animates all sections of the American industry. There is, they ‘ report, a general belief in the need for j experiment and progress, and this, with 1 the direct material incentives to self-; advancement and the penalties for fail- I ure to keep abreast of the times, accounts ; for the speed and efficiency of construction. The most important, but hot the only, factors which make for high productivity in the United States are stated to be: 1. Complete pre-planning of the job by building owner, architect, and contractor. 2. Proper’ co-ordination of sub-contrac-tors’ work and the effective collaboration between them and the general contractor. 3. Aaequacy of the supplies of labour and materials and the absence of restrictive controls. 4. General availability and use of mechanical aids. 5. Recognition of the importance of continuous research into the production of materials and into building techniques.

COMPANY NEWS DOMINION RUBBER “The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, May 23. ’There has been a substantial increase in the price of rubber during the last year, but I cannot find a sound reason why this increase is taking place. Various suggestions have been put forward, but candidly I do not know. All that I can say is that the price is very good,” said Mr G. T. B. Wilson, who presided at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Dominion Rubber Company, Ltd. The chairman referred to the purchase from the New Zealand Malay Rubber Company, Ltd., of the adjoining estate of Ulu Kusisl. and said it was expected that the working of the two estates as a single unit would result in a saying of four to five cents per lb in production costs. The company’s factory was fully equipped and was capable of handling 12.000ib of latex a month. Dealing with rubber prices, the chairman referred to the devaluation of the £ in September last, and the consequent rise in the price of rubber to 11 l-3d per lb. Rubber prices this year had further improved and for four months had averaged Is 4ld. touching Is 8d at the end of last month. This was the highest price for many years. With such a satisfactory price it had been decided to consider a forward contract providing for the sale of 20 tons a month from July to December. ‘What pressure has pushed up the price of rubber we have not yet been advised, and we trust that no sinister reason is at the back of it.” Reference was made to the Communist danger in South-east Asia, and to the fact that the terrorist menace was still a real one in Malaya. Dominion Fertilisers.—The net profit of the company for the year ended March 31 was £17.325. Thfs. together with £lO,BBl brought forward, gives £28,208 for appropriation. The directors recommend a dividend of 6 per cent., absorbing £14.434, leaving £13.772 to be carried forward.—(P.A.) Fletcher Holdings.—The company’s share register will be closed from' May 26 to June 5 for payment of a final dividend. Final dividend last year was 3 per cent., and total distribution 6 per cent. National Mortgage.—An unchanged interim dividend of per cent., payable on July 1. and ex dividend on June 21, is announced by the National Mortgage and Agency Company of N.Z., Ltd.. London. Anthony Hordern and Sons.—The company announces a final half-yearly dividend of 3 per cent, on ordinary and preferred shares, making a yearly dividend of 6 per cent Net profit for the year ended February 22, 1950, of £125.374, is a fall of £2-1,799. on the year, and of £33.494 in two years, from the post-war peak. Though sales again increased, benefits- were minimised by increased expenses.—(P.A.) VEGETABLES AND FRUIT The shops are still bare of bananas. Australian oranges are expected in a week or so. Ample stocks of Mayer lemons and marmalade oranges are available. Retailers’ Prices Oranges (Jamaican), lOd per lb; apples, dessert 6d per lb; cookers 4d per lb; lettuce teach), 4d to 6d; cauliflowers (each). 6d to 2s; rhubarb, (bunch), 6d to Is; onions, per lb, 4d; carrots, per lb, 4d; drumhead ' cabbage, 8d to Is each; spinach i (bunch), 6d; tomatoes, 6d to 2s 6d > per lb; potatoes, 2d per lb; wal- | nuts, 2s per lb; green peas, 8d . to Is per lb; spring onions (bunch), . 4d to 6d; cucumbers, 6d to Is each; hothouse cucumbers, Is 3d per lb; radish. 4d to i 6d bunch; beetroot, 6d a bunch; vegetable j marrows, 6d to Is each: pumpkins, 4d to 5d I per lb; mushrooms, 2s to 3s 6d per lb; I grapes, 5s to 7s 6d per lb; bananas, ,74d per lb: pears, 8d per lb: passion fruit, : four and six a Is; kumeras, lOd per ib; celery, 6d, Is a head; pie ■■ melon, 4d per lb; quinces, lOd per lb; garlic, 2d an ounce; Cape gooseberries. ; Is 6d per lb: pickling onions, 51b a Is: • Brussels sprouts. Is 3d per lb; leeks ! (bunch), 8d and Is; tree tomatoes, Is 3d | per lb; chestnuts, Is 6d per lb; Southland swedes, 2d per lb: Chinese gooseberries, 3s per lb; marmalade oranges. Is 3d per lb; Mayer lemons, Is 3d per lb. LONDON TIN QUOTATIONS LONDON, May 22. Tin is quoted on the London Metal Exchange at £599 15s a ton for spot delivery and £6OO 7s Gd a ton for forward delivery.