THE PUBLIC’S OPPORTUNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21995, 3 July 1933, Page 14

THE PUBLIC’S OPPORTUNITY

BUILDING AT LOW COST REDUCED PRICES AND SUBSIDY A GOOD USE FOR IDLE MONEY Pointing out thai building, next to farming, was the largest industry in the Dominion and that, as such, it employed a huge number of men, the president of the Otago Master Builders’ Association (Mr A. M'Laren), in an interview with a Daily Times reporter, said that a revival in the building trade stimulated by the new subsidy scheme would be of tremendous benefit to the country.

The scheme which was now in operation, Mr M'Laren added, showed a considerable improvement on that which had previously been in force. It assisted the small builder because it enabled him to draw wages while he was engaged on a job, and in addition to being more satisfactory from a working point of view it was more liberal. The scheme was welcomed by builders throughout the country because it had been proved that building was a “ key ” industry, and the number of men who would lie employed, directly and indirectly, if something like the former activity were renewed would be very large. It was scarcely necessary to remind the public of the extent to which the building industry lind been affected by the depression, but the following figures showing the annual value of building permits issued since the year 1921-22 illustrated very forcibly the severity of the blow which the industry had suffered;—

It was probable, he thought, that the figures for the past year would show that an even smaller amount of building bad been undertaken than in liJ.il-.i'i, Builders felt that there was a great deal of money lying idle x through lack of confidence anil that flic time had arrived to allow it to circulate through

productive channels. Thrift was a virtue only up to a point. It was in danger of becoming a vice. What was now required was a period of wise spending, and the subsidy which was being provided by the Unemployment Board offered great opportunities to those who invested their money in building. All building costs, he added, had been reduced substantially, and he thought that 20 per cent, was a fair estimate of the fall. Since the amount of the subsidy on the building of a five-roomed bungalow would be from £GO to £BO, it would be readily agreed that any person who contemplated building and did not take advantage of the opportunities that were offered at the present time was foolish. The amount saved by taking advantage of the No. 10 subsidy scheme would be almost sufficient to furnish the house that was erected. He could give no bettor illustration of the extent to which building costs had fallen than by quoting a case in which tenders had recently been called for the erection of a double-brick house that would have cost £IOOO to build in ordinary times. The successful tenderer’s price had been below £BOO, and, when allowance was made for the Unemployment Board’s subsidy it would be seen that the person for whom the house was to ho built would pay little more than £7OO for it.

Thi! granting of the subsidy, Mr M'Larcn added, also olTered an opportunity for people who had postponed the carrying out of necessary repairs, which could now be effected at low cost. There was a danger in the indefinite postponement of work of this kind, and it would be well for a number of people to remember that “a stitch in time saves nine.” A willingness on the part of the general public to put repairs in liand at the present time would create a great deal of employment in the building industry.

In conclusion Mr M'Laren urged Dunedin people to take immediate advantage of the opportunity to have work done at very low cost, as the amount available for the subsidy might soon be exhausted. Any person contemplating building or repair work would be foolish not to take advantage of the scheme, because it was not the custom of the Government to give money to flu: general public. The position, in fact, was generally the reverse.

1921-22 . .. .. £ 5,283,012 •J.022-23 . ., .. 7,101,681 1028-24 . 0,146,479 1024-25 . 0,304,160 1025-26 . .. 10.160,530 1026-27 . .. 11,010.380 1027-28 . 0,6fi5,216 1028-20 . ,. ,. 0.054,421 1929-30 . ., .. 0,050.877 1030-31 . .. .. 5,473,305 1031-32 . .. .. 2,728,486