Building Industry Hampered Is Claim

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 4

Building Industry Hampered Is Claim

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day.. The claim that no effort had been made in New Zealand to review building as a wnole was made by the president of the New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contractors Association, Mr S. G. Shearer, in his addres to the annual conference now meeting in Dunedin. He added that there was a very extensive programme of building works for commercial purposes still untouched,, and there were builders who had the equipment to carry out the work. But, unless greater efforts were made primarily by the Government, essential materials would not be available in the Dominion tor a veiy iong Ul “The industry throughout New Zealand is being hampered because of the cramped working space. Plans for factory and office buildings are on architects’ racks waiting for permits to be granted, and builders who specialise in that class of work have had to reduce their staffs,” Mr Shearer added. New Zealand’s Needs Tn a review of house building plans, Mr Shearer said that the Under-secretary for Housing had estimated the output lor the current financial year at about 10,000 units. The Works Department in its 1945-4 G annual report had mentioned a possible requirement of 180,000 new homes by 1960. At the time of the report 25,000 were needed and in the next 15 years a further 40,000 in cities and boroughs alone would need replacement. Another 95,000 would be required to meet population increases and 20,000 if. the policy of improved housing for rural, mining and sawmilling industries was effected. If that programme alone were put into operation, Mr Shearer said, it would mean at least 12.000 houses a year for 15 years, and not merely for the five years mentioned in the Budget. Position Deteriorates On the subject of housing the annual report of the association said: “It is stated that the State housing position has deteriorated to such an extent, in recent months that fresh plans have had to be drawn up for the wholesale extension of transit housing on a semi-permanent basis, while the number of new applicants for State houses', each m n nth exceeds the Allocation by five to one. It iS obvious, therefore, that the Government’s plans to overcome the housing shortage have proved ineffective and, without a more worthy and real approach to the matter, there appears to be no hone of material improvement for many years.” Claiming that the building of houses was the first priority matter in New Zealand, the report stated that there were, numerous difficulties to overcome in obtaining materials and the process was a costly and aggravating one, owing to the various forms of control.