THE BUILDING TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18747, 28 December 1922, Page 5

THE BUILDING TRADE

SATISFACTORY YEAR IN , AUCKLAND. BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR 1923. FALL IN PRICES AWAITED. (From Ouh Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, December 27. One of the most satisfactory phases of business activity during 1922 has been the building boom which has been experienced throughout Auckland. Practically all the various local bodies responsible for the granting of permits report a big increase in the amount of construction work sanctioned in their respective areas. As is usually the case, the major portion of the work has been for residences, and this is quite satisfactory in view or the housing shortage which has been acutely felt for the past few yostrs. That the scarcity of accommodation is still very great is, cf course, undoubted, and only the fringe of the problem has been tackled. The very fact that there remains so much to be done ensures another prosperous year for building and allied trades, and if prices become at all reasonable there is every prospect of the record of 1922 being exceeded by a large figure. In Auckland city the new buildings have been mainly for business purposes, but in the suburbs and across in North Shore Borough houses have been appearing with almost mushroom-like rapidity. There is no doubt that very many people are still waiting for a fall in prices before they launch out on a building project. If there is any reasonable decline in prices of timber, ironware, and the other goods necessary for building purposes, there is not the least doubt that the trade will have a rush nt work that has never before been experienced. There certainly may he some justification for the “ca’ canny” attitude of the public—a fact which doubtless will be taken into consideration by those concerned with the best interests of building and allied trades.