THE BUILDING TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 3

THE BUILDING TRADE

OPTIMISM l.\ CHRISTCHURCH. IFaou Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 10. Much more building was done in Christchurch Inst year than for many years past, 'The figures relating to building permits issued by (he City Council are n record, but (he area of Greater Christchurch has increased in the past year or so. There is plenty of evidence to warrant the assumption that the figures for the year now commenced will be greater than for the year just closed. In 1922 a total of 817 permits for buildings of the value of £653,702 was issued. In the previous year the number of permits was 609 and the value £446,937. In December 68 permits accounted for £136, but), which included

£83,090 for buildings under construction for the Public Trust Office and the municipality. Recently permits have been issued for a. number of large contracts. In Hereford street operations have commenced in the construction of premises for the Commercial Rank of Australasia, the value being £IB,OOO. Alterations and additions at Christ’s College involve iho sum of £23,000, and the Caledonian Society is building a hall for £BSOO. There are several build-

ings unfinished which were commenced prior to 1922, including u building for the Woolston Tanneries Company in Hereford street, the value being £20,000. and alterations at Canterbury College involving an expenditure of £15,1)00. A permit has been grunted for additions to St. Saviour’s Orphanage at a cost of £7350, and the work has started on the Bridge of Remembrance whieh will cost over £17,000. The buildings in prospect include the Church of England hostel and new premises Jor (ho Christchurch Boys’ High School. Builders told n Sun representative that they had been much more busy in the

past year than in. 1921. and they were optimistic as to the future. A large amount of work was in siglif. material was now very plentiful, and ample labour was available. The idea is current that when the Otira tunnel is open for general traffic the carriage of timber from the West Coast will be less costly than at present. Against this if is pointed out that the cost, of milling timber is increasing every year as timber belts become less accessible. The opening of tho tunnel would have little effeef in the matter of price this year, because the timber brougbr to Canterbury by rail would have to be held for many months for seasoning. One builder admitted that tiie West Coast timber will Ire cheaper towards the end of the year, but in house construction the biggest item is wages. If there were a 20 per cent, drop in timber (he saving on the ordinary bungalow would be about £2O.