CONSTRUCTION WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20890, 4 June 1931, Page 17

CONSTRUCTION WORK.

N EW ZEALAND MATERIALS.

USE BY LOCAL BODIES

GENERAL preference shown

The °f materials of local or Now Zealand manufacture by local bodies for building operations lias increased to a jemarkalilo extent in recent years. It is now the general policy of local bodies to (tipulato that as far as possible the New Zealand made article should be used. There are few public bodies which have 8 more extensive building programme than the Auckland Education Board, and this is ono which always uses New Zealand materials whenever possibles. A complaint made f to the board recently that materials from abroad were used w hen the New Zealand articlo might j, aV e been availed of was revealed upon Investigation to bo without foundation. J£he building concerned was constructed B t a cost of £2OOO. Investigation into the complaint showed that tho only portion not of New Zealand materials was the jront door, valued at about £lO. In the construction of a brick building |he Education Board uses New ZealandjOade bricks, Now Zealand cement and jilea manufactured in the Dominion. Its Voodfcn buildings are constructed entirely Now Zealand woods. Even the nails £ned are of local make, and it is stipulated that the paint usod must be that for £hich New Zealand labour ia employed in manufacturing process. The heating Equipment and everything connected with jfe ara of New Zealand mako. Tb'sre are one or two things, however, | jyhioli have to be imported because they not available in New Zealand. These fcro chiefly fittings, such as door-handles and brass panels, but even these are now peing produced in Auckland. It. is the jboard'B policy when it is found to be impossible to obtain a required article of JJew Zealand manufacture to stipulate jhat it should bo made within the Empire. Tho possibility of exploitation in this pe3poct is not overlooked, but, geneially (peaking, it is found that the New Zea-land-made article is procurable at a reasonable cost compared with that of the Imported article. 'lhe majority of the local, bodies are willing to pay a little pxtr,» for Empire products than for those from foreign countries. In building conBtruction the most noticeable deficiency of New Zealand timber is the lack of guitable lengths for long roofing supports. Jn such cases it is tho practice to us© Oregon. The furnishing of the Education Board's buildings is almost entirely of kauri. Tho average person who consults an architect about the building of a house does not stipulate that New Zealand materials should be used, but leaves the Eik'ctiuii of s>u: tabic timber to the

architect.,./ New Zealand timbers are generallv used, but occasionally interior (I>.i iitiiiLj demands the use of certain iinj>o; ti-ii wCutis, such as walnut. As a rule tho New Zialander is content to have the many varieties of New Zealand woods which are available for in--lector decora ting purposes.

in il.o mailer 01 intuits the architect, wherever puss.bio, will use an article oi New Zealand manufacture, provided it is up lo standard and is available at a reasonable cost. It is now found that the majority of such articles can be procured in the Dominion, and of a standard winch compares favourably with that of articles imported.