Builders want growth

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 10

Builders want growth

PA Wellington The Master Builders’ Federation wants to ensure. that the building industry can contribute to economic growth from the mid-1980s without needing an influx of people from overseas. The new presdieht (Mr G. B/Tait) told the federation’s management council in Wellington that it had to better programme • major works and heavily promote the idea that, because of inflation, building would never be cheaper.

“As individuals there is obviously scope for us to market our skills better, and some members are already very effectively doing , this,” Mr Tait said. “But the industry needs more -than that,’ including , Government support in new forms- if ■it is to maintain its workforce and halt the departure of the skilled workers to whom it can no longer guarantee a ■ living.: “We must, try to achieve widespread understanding of our problems,

and we need some Gov* ernment help, not in the hand-out sense but in more subtle ways such as better depreciation concessions on high-rise buildings to encourage investment, and tax incentives for the private sector to advance mortgage money,” he said. The federation believes there is a real demand for housing but it is being artificially dampened by lack of suitable finance for those on low incomes, Mr Tait said.