TENDERS FOR HOUSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 26 June 1937, Page 6

TENDERS FOR HOUSES

GISBORNE PRICES CRITICISED REASONS FOR DISPARITY iUnited Press Association! GISBORNE, 24th June. The report of Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, in which he drew l attention to the high prices of tenders in Gisborne as compared with other towns, was referred to master builders in Gisborne. Mr Lee stated that for one design the prices were: Lower Hutt, £1017; Invercargill, £1018; Hastings, £1112; Gisborne, £1388; and said there was absolutely no justification for the wide disparity in prices, and the difference of £370 in Gisborne was astounding.

Builders in Gisborne were of the opinion that Mr Lee failed to realise thai the cost of materials here was excessive compared with other placfes, being about 25 per cent, higher. Bricks were obtainable in Auckland at £4 15s, but the cost in Gisborne was £.7 15s. Timber was in short supply and mostly had to come from the West Coast of the South Island, and consequently was much dearer. In Rotorua totara timber cos. 24s upwards but for the same timber In Gisborne the cost- was about 60s, . Cement wai another item which, cost much more n Gisborne than in other parts. It was suggested that the bettei course would have been for Mr Lee to visit Gisborne and investigate the position before making such commem in the public Press.