Supply of building materials improves

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 14

Supply of building materials improves

(New Zealand Press Association/ AUCKLAND, January 15. Some manufacturers of building materials had increased their output as much as 50 per cent in the last six months without enlarging their plant, the chairman of the building shortages committee of the Auckland Master Builders’ Association (Mr L. G. Carder) said today.

Manufacturers had been working above themselves to produce more, and by merely reorganising their equipment for better use and working longer hows, had increased production dramatically.

As a result, some shortages of key building materials could ease soon, Mr Carder said.

Supplies of copper tubing had been restricted to the Jin to l|in diameter range, but he expected the full range up to 3in to be back by March. Frame timbers, cement blocks, roofing materials, taps, valves, and lavatory bowls should also be more readily available soon.

Mr Carder said the Government had been very cooperative, and should be given credit for its aid to the building trade.

In areas where manufacturers could not keep up with the demand import licences had been readily

issued to keep the trade supplied, he said. Plastics, wire netting, coreboard. and lavatory bowls were some of the items imported since shortages became evident about six months ago. There would still be delays in obtaining many products, and in some cases alternative materials would

have to be used for some time, but the industry should be able to work at full capacity during the coming year. No serious shortages were expected, but much would depend on the energy situa'tion, Mr Carder said.