THE HOUSING QUESTION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11411, 6 January 1923, Page 3

THE HOUSING QUESTION

“RATS MUST COME” THOUGH COST OF BUILDING IS GOING DOWN. THE TIMBER DIFFICULTY. One of the chief difficulties in connection with the-, housing question is the timber supply* which has been acute for some considerable time. Yesterday a “Times” reporter interviewed Mr Stewart, manager of the Stewart Timber, Glass and -Hardware Co., and he said that there' were many indications to show that the trade was reviving. At present he knew that quite a lot of prospective builders were waiting an easing in the prices of timber, and many of the architects had designs ready to be constructed as soon as there was .-a fall in the cost of material. .The raising of prioes by the sawmillers had a detrimental effect on tho trade, and many were now turning their minds to brick and concrete. The rise in .prices was hard for the business man, and it tended to cause disorganisation. Of course, building in brick had many, -advantages. The insurance was less on the furniture, and the cost of upkeep was by no means as great. IMPORTED TIMBERS. When questioned about the timber imported from outside the Dominion, Mr Stewart said that there was always a good demand for Oregon pines on acoount of the length. In New Zealand it was hard to get lengths over twenty feet, but Oregon pines of sixty feet were quite common. In New Zealand the longer timber often had faults, such as knots, but the American timber was almost faultless in tfiat respect, and was light, strong, durable and reasonable in price. Longer timber could be got more easily in this country years ago, but much of the bush that was being cut by the oawmillers to-day would have been passed over at that time. At present the supplies came from the North and South Islands in about equal quantities. In the North matai and totara were chief, while the » est Coast mills supplied large quantities of rimu. Californian redwood was in good demand for ornamental Work, and from Australia came the iron-bark -and spotted -gum. Oak and walnut came from America in ' small quantities, but the supplies of Indian timbers was practically nil owing to the difficulty of transport. There were no ships coming direct from that, country, and transhipment made the whole thing too costly. “FANCY” TIMBERS. . “We would have stocked rosewood, teak and mahogany if we could have got them more easily,” said Mr Stewart, “but present conditions make this impossible.” He had many beautiful specimens of Indian timbers on view, but he added that. American walnut was„- just as beautiful as the Indian product. There was a good market for hardwoods at present. The spotted gum, which is used for making shafts and bodies of waggons, and the iron-bark, which is used for such things as girders on bridges, being the principal demands. “FLATS MUST OOME.” Touching on the housing question again, Mr Stewart Baid that the system of flats would eventually come to Wellington. The ground at present Was very dear, and what has been done in the large cities of Europe and America will also be done here. The brick

cottage would also come into its own, but at present prices were so high that it was almost impossible for the working man to own a home of his own. r iiie reporter was then shown round the extensive yards, where piles of timber, dressed and undressed, local and imported, were all classified in shape, kind, and dimensions. Doom made of redwood and manufactured in America were landed by the dozen and they are very handsome specimens of the joiner’s art. There was also a fair supply of kauri and other ornamental timbers. • REDUCED PRICE OF GLASS. The subject of glass was brought up as Mr Stewart pointed to a large building in which this article was stored, and he was pleased to say that it was nearly down to the pre-war rates again. Most of the glass was from Great Britain and Belgium. There was not much from America and none from Japan. On the. whole, there is every reason to be optimistic, and the new year will see great developments in the trade generally.