TIMBER SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25051, 15 November 1944, Page 7

TIMBER SHORTAGE

BUILDEBS' PROBLEMS

VERY DIFFICULT YEAR The difficulties which had been created for the building trade by the shortage of timber were reviewed in the report presented to the annual meeting of the Auckland Master Builders' Association. As far as the supply ol' materials was concerned, the report stated, the association had passed through one of the most difficult years in its experience. "Extraordinary steps have had to be taken to try to prevent total dislocation of the industry," said the report. "While these steps have certainly had an effect, the shortage of timber has been so great that progress of work has been seriously hampered, and the cost of the work has been heavily increased by delays. Almost Impossible Task "The timber allocation committee, which was set up by the Government in November, 1943, to supervise the distribution and allocation of all timber coming on to the Auckland market, has been faced with an almost impossible task in distributing fairly the timber that has arrived on the Auckland market," said the report. "Although Auckland's quota has been fixed at 2,000,000 feet of sawn timber, it is stated that considerably more than this quantity has reached the market* each month. Even then it is less than half the-amount required to allow a vigorous house-building programme to be carried out." Releasing Additional Bush The association knew that the Sawminers' Federation and the Government were fully aware of the position and of the serious consequences. Advice had been received that all possible steps were being taken to increase production immediately arid to maintain the increase for the following 12 months. The needs of Auckland and Wellington were receiving particular attention. Although the position was bad at present there was hope for early improvement, as manpower was being diverted to the sawmilling industry, plans for the release of additional bush to enable sawmillers to improve their output were being completed, and plans were being prepared for the installation of new plant to be staffed by the incoming manpower. Use of Defence Buildings "The acute timber shortage would have been much more severely felt had it not been' for the fact that a large number of building operatives were transferred to the dismantling of certain defence buildings and camps, and to the re-erection of the buildings as cottages for residential purposes," said the report. "This relieved the timber shortage to a considerable extent." The report said that the demand for bricks greatly exceeded the supply. This was caused principally through some brickworks standing idle and others working at reduced capacity on account of the manpower and coal situations.

RETAILERS PROTEST CONTAINER CHARGE PLAN OPPOSITION IN WAIKATO (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday A mass meeting of retailers representing interests from Huntly to Te Awamutu was held at the Hamilton produce markets to protest against the proposed action of the Government in imposing on retailers charges for fruit and vegetable containers. Activities of the market were suspended while the meeting was in progress. The meeting decided to offer the strongest opposition to the Government's proposal, such interference being considered not only unfair but also opposed to the principle of stabilisation. The meeting further pledged itself to refrain from buying any lines so affected. AIRMEN IN FIJI RECREATION AMENITIES An indication of the recreation and social amenities provided for airmen stationed in Fiji was' contained in a recent article from a correspondent of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Official News Service in Lauthala Bay. He stated that the living conditions for the airmen were good, and that they deserved them. The difficulties under which the men had to work were outlined by the correspondent. He also said that leave was granted on a fairly generous scale and, although night flying, which was carried out practically every second night, sometimes interfered with its regularity, everyone at Lauthala Bay and Nausori, the two R.N.Z.A.F. stations on the island, had plenty of opportunity to reach the civilisation of Suva frequently. The R.N.Z.A.F. had organised a rest camp at Levuka, an island town a short distance from Suva, and encouraged picnics on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. In Suva, a number of women voluntarily conducted the New Zealand Club", a large, cool building set among palms and trees a few yards from the sea. In the club, light attractive meals were served, dances were held twice a week, facilities were provided for reading and writing, and airmen were given advice on how to spend their leave. A hostel taken over by the Y.M.C.A. provided beds for the night at a small cost and meals. The fourth anniversary of the club, which was sponsored by leading business men of Suva and church authorities, was celebrated recently, when a free meal and dance were given. Pictures and dances were the main attractions in the town, and local residents invited airmen on leave to their homes, said the correspondent. About 60 Waafs, employed as clerks, radio operators, transport drivers, medical orderlies, and other occupations similar to those they followed in New Zealand, wero serving at Lauthala Bay. DIVORCE GRANTED A decieo nisi was granted by Mr Justice Callan yesterday to Quecnie Amelia Mavis Salek (Mr Dickson) against Victor Salek on the ground of, mutual separation. The parties were married in New York and have two daughters. The petitioner was granted the custody of the elder girl. His Honor said that" since Mr Justice Johnston had refused the decree in December, 1940, the parties had begun a fresh separation, which had remained in force now for nearly four years.