BUILDING DELAYS EXAMINED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28370, 31 August 1957, Page 6

BUILDING DELAYS EXAMINED

Committee To Seek Solution

<New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 30.

A 16-man committee which presented papers at a conference of building and construction industries in Auckland is to remain in office to find how "serious problems retarding the industry” can be solved. This was the outcome of the conference, arranged by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers and attended by nearly 200 engineers, architects, contractors, civil engineers, merchants, subcontractors, local body members and business executives.

The committee will investigate the establishment of some body, such as a suggested New Zealand building Institute, to survey the industry, redress faults, and seek better and cheaper construction. It will also find how to expedite the preparation and issue of contemporary New Zealand standard by-laws. Other problems to be tackled are unproved training of all ranks

in the building and civil engineering industries, a review of contract and tender systems and the collection and distribution of information, need for research, frequent revision of standards and codes, assuring of finance for projects, a speeding-up of local body and Government tender decisions

and acceptances, and "the need for clients to demand better service from all parties.” After hours of fault- and remedy-finding. Sir John Allum, who presided at the conference, hailed it as a red-letter day. "This has been most successful,” he said. “The conference, which was overdue, must produce greater harmony and efficiency. You have reached the stage where there should be a raising of standards all round.” ’