HOUSES DELAYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 10

HOUSES DELAYED

SCARCITY OF FITTINGS BATHS AND WASH BASINS RESTRICTION ON IMPORTS The installation of batlis, wash basins and other facilities in many State houses under construction is delayed because of a scarcity of supplies. Import licences to import such articles were at first refused for the second period, but the New Zealand industry, which is stated to bo developing, has been nnable to cope fully with the demand suddenly placed upon it. The result has been a fairly large lag in the delivery of orders. - The Government has now issued import licences in order that the difficulty with supplies, so far as 1 State houses are concerned, can bo overcome. Builders point out, . however, that some time will elapse before overseas markets can meet tho deficiency. Presumably tho Reserve Bank will make finance availablo for tho purpose. So far as can bo gathered, import licences have not been granted in respect of private building. State housing shares in the i preference given to other Government undertakings. "Surely the contribution by private building toward overcoming the acute scarcity of houses should bo considered equally with that by tho State," said a builder. "Tho general preference to State housing requirements is an actual discouragement to private building." Tho restriction on other supplies required by tho building trade has not yet caused scarcities in the market. Tho stocks of many importers remain fairly normal, although thero is a steady contraction in tho volumo of replacements. Wholesale distributors aro in many instances now conserving supplies by restricting sales to regular customers.