Building Control Causes Concern

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 16

Building Control Causes Concern

“1 think as manufacturers we should be concerned if this control is to be used to dampen down the considered action of the manufacturer in his desire to expand his plant and his production facilities,” said the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. G. Pearce) last evening.

“It is hoped that the administration of these regulations will be efficient and quick.” Mr Pearce was commenting on the Budget announcement that economic stabilisation (building construction) regulations would require the consent of the Minister of Works before the issue of a building permit for a building worth more than £30,000.

A copy of the regulations was received by the association from the general secretary of the Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr A. Dellow). Mr Pearce said some manufacturers would be faced with another form of control. Whether the Government’s problem was one of variety or types of building, or one of regional over-commitment of the industry, manufacturers had not been told. Mr Pearce thought it was true to say there had been little indication as to the way in which the regulations would be administered.

“If these regulations are to add additional costs and delays to essential building construction works for either processing or manufacturing purposes. then the development of the country will suffer and be hindered,” said Mr Pearce. “I think this council should urge our federation to ensure that, as early as possible, the controller should declare what is regarded as ’essential,’ and to the contrary, what types of buildings, it will be his prerogative, or right, to defer. “I think these are regulations which are new upon us, and ones that we should request our federation to act upon immediately to obtain the greatest possible elucidation, in order that development of manufacturing in New Zealand will not be hindered.” Mr Pearce sajd the greatest guide probably was cost per footage of building in the various centres. “As far as I am able to un-

derstand, the cost of building in Canterbury would not indicate that the building industry is over-committed in this area,” he said. The council decided that the matter should be raised with the federation immediately.