THE SIZE OF BRICKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 202, 20 May 1908, Page 8

THE SIZE OF BRICKS.

A CHRISTCHURCH PROPOSAL. SMALLER BRICK AT .THE SAME PRICE. What looks liko a serious matter to tho builders, contractors, and perhaps more particularly.. to .those '''contemplating ' building is, contained. in a report from Christehurch to the effect, that the Brickmakcrs' Association; of that city has informed tho Builders' and Contractors' .Association ' that after August it is'intended to reduce tho size, of bricks. The . goes on to • say that this, would mean an increase in'the price of brickwork bj' 12 to 15 per cent., and would complicate ; repairs. to existing buildings. The interpretation of this' message would soem to be .that brickmakers will reduco the size of bricks, and still'charge tho same per thousand as.at, nresent.

The price of building in Wellington, as in other.centres,'has increased,so much during the past ten yoars, owing to tho increased price of timber and cost of labour in a dozen different, ways, that' another 15 per cent, jump must be considered a very serious obstacle to the continiwnco of the present building activity. Owing to tho tightness'of money at' present, Wellington architects state that there is more than ordinary hesitancy on the -part of owners of city property to embark on building schemes, many of which have been in contemplation for somo time past.' If the Christehurch movement/spreads to Wellington, another barrier, will arise in tho path of- the building progress .of the city.

An , inquiry was made yesterday as to whether . there was any echo of the movement to decrease the size of bricks in Wellington. A brickmaker in a large way of busiliess said ho had 1 heard nothing regarding a reduction ,in the size of bricks, and did not think it was very likely.' There Was no; association in Wellington now. One did oxist somo years ago, and' an agreement was made to sell bricks at a certain price, but owing, to tho. discovery that certain brickmakers .were; making • secret arrangements with builders arid contractors, ■ and thereby breaking ,the rules of tho Association, the body ceased to exists There was no agreement at all just now between master brickmakersi and each one was snapping for what ho could get. < /." • • ■ ... Our informant stated that his bridles wero of the standard size (9in. by 4in. by 3in.). Ordinary building bricks wore now being sold at 42s...per' 1000.'delivered, press bricks at 80s. per 1000, and other sorts- according to scale. ■' .. . ' . ' ' One brickmakor pointed out that- it would not be good policy to increaso the cost of brick structures. in- Wellington just at present, owing to the fact that the- forro-coh-creto stylo of building had got a leg-in.' He did; not admit that ferro-concrete' was as effective: as brick for building purposes, but if /tho price of bricks was increased appreciably .it would! direct. more attention to fcrro-concretc. /Another brickmakor stated the proposal was absurd 011 the face of it, as bricks-must be .mado to tho standard that existed all over the .world,- the standard upon which all, the steel / building girders were made, and iipon . which was based „ tho by-laws of cities as' affectihg: walls and'party 'walls. For instance,'. the Wellington City - by-laws provide, for-'lB-inch and 9-inch wqlls, and it would be .'oxtrcmely difficult to construct such walls;/with',;bricks other than''.the 9-inch standard-brick. In reference to the price of; bricks, ho , stated that .Wellington was. the cheapest centre for bricks. He had visited Christchurch a few months ago, and had found that'they were getting £2 10s. and £2 12s. per thousand, arid-- in Auckland the .price was-£2 125.: 6d. : por thousand. 1