GENERALLY BETTER

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 146, 18 December 1933, Page 10

GENERALLY BETTER

BUILDING FIGURES

DECEMBER A BIG MONTH

To make direct comparisons between sets of building figures (permits and estimated value of work to be done under those permits) between month and month is not satisfactory, for tho figures swing about- remarkably from month to month, particularly as regards the value of the work; one big city building will lift the month's figures up by a clear £100,000. The figures supplied to the City Councity at its last meeting, however, do confirm the general trend this year towards improvement in building. Tho number of permits is running along this year a little ahead of last year and several fairly big city blocks arc lifting the total solidly. Since the beginning-of the current financial year the monthly totals have been: April, £0909 (41 permits); May, £12,062 (02); June, £40,069 (50); July, £16,215 (GO); August, £32,623 (65); September, £27,898 (80)"; October, £32,008 (60); November £22,471 (70). Though there have been very marked differences from month to month in the expenditure upon city blocks the building of suburban homes or small business premises has been fairly consistent, but June and November wero largely housing months. The permit figures do not include the railway station, for plans for this Government job did not,pass through the City Council offices, otherwise the November total would have shot up by an additional £339,000. However, if the station is missing from the list of permits, the addition to the volume of AVellington's business and employment is real enough. The' December fighres will probably be high, the best so far for this year, for. it is expected that the permit for ! the Colonial Mutual Company's new building will be issued this month, the best part of £100,000 in one building.