COST OF STATE HOUSES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28368, 29 August 1957, Page 14

COST OF STATE HOUSES

Fall In Christchurch Figure

(from Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 28. Nat only is Christchurch the lowest cost area of the four main centres for the building of State houses, but the cost of construction in Christchurch has fallen in comparison with the figure for the previous financial year. These facts are contained in the annual report of the Department of Housing, tabled in Parliament this afternoon. A comparison is given of the average tender prices being accepted as at March 31, 1956 and 1957, for similar types of threebedroom houses of equivalent area in the four main centres. Each house is a typical unit on a flat section, built in weatherboards with a tiled roof, the price including drainage, fencing, paths, toolshed, clothes drier, and letterbox. The figures, those for 1956 being mentioned first, are: Christchurch £2710, £2557; Wellington £2964, £3007; Dunedin, £3OOl, £3054; Auckland, £3062, £3085. In general comment the report says: "Although a general wage increase took place during the year and there was a substantial rise in the price of timber, tenders for State houses have remained fairly constant in most parts of New Zealand, with even a reduction in some localities as a result of intensified competition.” Christchurch tops New Zealand in the number of State house units completed during the financial year, the figures being; Christchurch 615, Wellington 529, Auckland 545, Hamilton 458, Palmerston North 264, Napier 210 and Dunedin 107.