High Building Costs Viewed With Alarm

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 49, 27 February 1943, Page 4

High Building Costs Viewed With Alarm

At tho annual conference of Master Builders in Palmerston North yesterday considerable time was given to the consideration of a remit sent in by Canterbury and referring to the increasing high cost of building operations. Mr. H. Brake (Christchurch) speaking for the remit, claimed that the Court of Arbitration should function instead of the Commissioner. One speaker contended that high costs were nothing more than inflation. Another speaker claimed that the trouble to-day was low production, not high prices. Tho president (Mr. C. 8. Luney) explained that the point raised by Canterbury was already being dealt with by the executive. He added that the executive thought a protest should be made to the Prime Minister. After further discussion it was resolved by a 20 to 12 majority that the Prime Minister should be sent the following message: “That this conference views with great alarm tho increasing high cost of building and is concerned with the further increase that will be imposed on public and private work, particularly on homes for returned member* of the Armed Forces, if any Defence Works Labour Legislation Suspension Order is made applicable to all work. We therefore request that tho awards of the Court of Arbitration will continue to apply to all private work and thus keep in line with Government stabilisation regulations.”

Gaol for Car Conversion In the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday a soldier from Hastings, Paul George Murray, aged 20, was sent to gaol for two months on a charge of converting a car. There was a story attaching to his arrest. The car was a taxi, the lights of which had fused. The owner when driving another taxi, saw a car coming towards j him with no lights on. On passing it ho I recognised it as his own so turned and | gave chase. He managed to force Murray to pull up at the approach to a bridge and hauded him over to the police.