BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 174, 8 July 1932, Page 9

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

ARCHITECT’S PLEA. MAINTENANCE WORK ESSENTIAL “Building prospects in New Zealand’’ was tho title of an interesting address which Mr. Roy A. Lippincott, chairman of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, delivered on Wednesday at the luncheon meeting of the Auckland Credit-men’s Club.

“Although we are at present suffering from a financial cataclysm, we must shortly begin to live again,” said Mr. Lippincott, in pleading for indivi. dual enterprise. Nothing would ever be done, he said, if we all waited for somebody else to start. Most of tho costs of tho operation in building work went into wages, and thence directly into circulation. It had been estimated on reliable authority that 4000 dwellings were needed each year to cope adequately with the natural increase in New Zealand’s population. During the past few years the rate had been only about 2000 a year. Not only were we building up a deficit in dwelling houses but also in commercial structures.

Building expenditure per head of the population on an annual ba,sis showed an average of £lO 19/7 for the four principal cities of the Dominion during tho past ten years, as compared with approximately £6 in the Old Country. There had been a very marked decline during the past few years, however, and it was to be regretted that a considerable amount of tho work had been of inferior quality. Also maintenance had been neglected, making future requirements still more difficult. “It is sincerely to be hoped,” said Mr. Lippincott, “that those who have the responsibility of buildings will not be blind to the necessity of adequate maintenance. Not only will this help in tho present economic and financial circumstances, but it will avoid future strain and also ensure that the best value is obtained. I know it is fashionable to plead poverty just now, but the revival is bound to come and reasonable provision for the future will make matters better for all concerned.”