BUILDING IN NORTH

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 20

BUILDING IN NORTH

House Permits Drop Heavily

(M. Presf AMOctaHon’

AUCKLAND, Sept. 9

Building permits issued for houses and flats in the Auckland area during the six months to June fell by 19 per cent on the corresponding period the previous year, the president of the Dominion Sawmillers’ Federation (Mr K. C. A. Carter) said yesterday.

The Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) had said that there had been no drop in the value of building permits issued for April to June this year, compared with the same period in 1965. “If he implies that the number of houses and flats being constructed is at a level comparable with 1965. then his statement gives an incorrect picture." Mr Carter said.

"Because of rising costs, the average unit permit value for houses and flats during the two periods quoted by the Minister has risen by nearly 10 per cent, thus obscuring a fall of almost 11 per cent in the number of permits issued.”

Mr Carter said a comparison of the number of permits for flats and houses in the six months to June showed a i decline of 15 per cent in Hutt-Wellington, 7 per cent in Hamilton. 51 per cent in Wanganui, 17 per cent in Palmerston North, and 14 per cent in Rotorua. In Auckland the number of permits fell from 4338 to 3513.

“This reveals an entirely different picture to that painted by the Minister.”