BUILDING INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 226, 22 August 1935, Page 2

BUILDING INDUSTRY.

EVIDENCE OF STIMULUS. MORE HOUsis” REQUIRED. An increase in building in 1934-33 is commented upon in the annual report of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association, presented to the annual meeting in Christchurch to-day. “As the consumption of and demand for timber in our domestic markets are almost wholly dependent upon the volume of building work coming forward, particularly home buildings, it follows that our industry is vitally interested in the trend of building activity in all parts of the Dominion,” the report states. “In the past year (ended March 31, 19there has been an actual increase in the number of building permits issued by local authorities (compared with the previous year) for the erection of dwellings. The number of permits for dwellings in 1932-33 fell to the very low figure of 997 (against a figure of 5200 in 1927-28 and an estimated annual requirement of 5000), but rose to 1981 in the following year, and for last year the figure was 2173, an increase of 192. “It has been estimated that the normal number of new dwellings required in New Zealand to provide for increased population and for replacements is 5000 per annum, and due to restricted building through the depression there was already a shortage of 7677 houses at the end of March last year. It is obvious, therefore, that even last year’s improved figures of permits are far short of taking care of normal requirements, let alone making up any shortages. “Already there is ample evidence of a growing political and public interest in the problem of the house shortage. It is, therefore, reasonable to suppose that the rate of building of dwellings must be speeded up considerably and when the time comes all those engaged in the sawmilling industry will gladly respond in the providing of the most essential material. Turning to the statistics relative to the value of building work for which permits were issued last year we find that, though there was a drop of £246,202 in the total value of all building work authorised compared with 1933-34, the value of work upon dwellings for which permits were issued last year increased by no less than £400,447, which spells a greater consumption of timber and is otherwise satisfactory from the ‘housing problem’ point of view. “The statistics relative to the total expenditure on building -work for which permits were issued over the Dominion, compared with expenditure on dwellings, for the past six years are interesting and they are aptly parallel to the decline and more recent tardy recovery experienced in the sawmiihng industry over the depression period. lhey are as follow:

1029-30 . Total. .. £9,959,877 Dwellings only £5,105,002 £2,898 79n 1930-31 . .. £5,473,395 1931-32 . ■ • £2,728,486 £l!063|4R7 1932-33 . •• £2,474,866 £860,593 £1,597,035 £1,997,482 1933-34 . .. £3,889,890 1934-35 . • • £3,643,688