COST OF BUILDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 6

COST OF BUILDING

PREVENTION OF EXPLOITATION A MINISTERIAL ASSURANCE ( Per United Pbess Association) AUCKLAND, March Hi. Wlicn it was mentioned to the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) at a special meeting of the Education Board this morning that the cost of building was rising, Mr Fraser said it would be foolish for the Government to embark on a scheme of building schools, hospitals, mental hospitals and home building if it did not take steps to prevent exploitation —and such steps would bo taken. There would bo no advantage to the people if such schemes were to be nullified by excessive profiteering by those interested. He did not suggest that that had happened —and prices might have been affected by economic causes respecting timber, or perhaps (he sawmill workers had not been getting sufficient wages —but it was a serious matter, and prices could not be allowed to soar to the point of exploitation.