BUILDING SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 4

BUILDING SUPPLIES

PLANS TO MEET DEMAND PROGRAMME OF WORKS Mr James Fletcher, Commissioner of Works, has been visiting Dunedin in connection with the proposals for a new. massage block at the Dunedin Hospital and extensions to the Otago University and Medical School. in - an interview last night he said that a decision should be . reached at an early date to enable these works to proceed. Questioned regarding the present shortage of building materials, particularly timber, Mr Fletcher said that Dunedin was not the only place which was feeling the shortage. At the outbreak, of war with Japan, buildings of all types were urgently required for defence purposes, and to provide *br the large . number .of prefabricated units that were needed all stocks throughout the Dominion were drawn ' upon, in addition to a call being made on supplies from the mills. “The position to-day,” Mr Fletcher added, “is that we still have a building programme of considerable magnitude, and it will be necessary to increase timber supplies considerably. The Minister of Afforestation, Mr J. G. Barclay, has appointed representatives of his department, the sawmilling and merchant interests, and the Timber Workers’ Union, with a representative from the Ministry of Works, to bring down proposals for the expansion of timber production. It is expected that within a few months supplies will be coming forward in sufficient quantity to meet the essential demand.

Certain other essential building, materials, Mr Fletcher said, were controlled because they came under the lend-lease. agreement with the United States, and the “end use” of these materials was fixed by the supply authority in the United States. This meant, of necessity, a limitation of building .to purely essential Structures which were connected. with-the whr effort. .•- .... - ’ • • .

A Dominion-wide survey had been completed by the Minister of Works, Mr R. Semple, he contirted, and t!iis schedule provided not only for the absorption of all the labour available to-day, but made,provision for absorbing all labour released from the army or other essential services. The programme of works covered all the necessary ; types of buildings, including war-time houses.