Minister Reports Fall In Building Costs

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22759, 4 October 1948, Page 6

Minister Reports Fall In Building Costs

A statement that he hoped to pub lish from now on examples of housing contracts and tenders approved was made by the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. C. F. Skinner, speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Rehabilitation Council. The examples, he said would cover on a cost per foot basis the highest and lowest tenders accepted for houses of an approved standard built in different centres under the rehabilitation housing loan scheme. This Would enable the public to be kept informed of trends in housebuilding prices and to make comparisons. These would show that in certain districts houses were being built for an average of 33/ a foot ,while in other districts, such as Auckland and Wellington, the costs were much higher.

He was of the opinion that building costs were coming . down. As an example recent reports from Christchurch showed that a number of tenders for suitable homes were under £ISOO. He himself knew of many ex-servicemen who were , getting their homes built within the rehabilitation loan limits.

The timber supply position was improving every day, and with Che exception of certain dressing grades timber was fairly freely available. As a result, restrictions for timber usage were gradually disappearing altogether. The supply of other materials was also improving except of nails, which were still difficult to obtain, as was also wire of all kinds.