BUILDING COSTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 3

BUILDING COSTS

FURTHER RISE INEVITABLE EFFECT OF NEW REGULATIONS P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. Commenting on the new building regulations, a Wellington building contractor said they would result in a substantial rise in costs “ Just fancy,” he said, “having tc ask for a permit to replace a couple of rotten boards. The position is going to be ridiculous.” The contractor said the time involved in obtaining a permit was going to put an additional cost on to repair jobs. A Wellington architect said: “This amendment savours of Gestapo methods. An inspector is going to be given the right to enter upon the premises of any work that has been done within the last six months or so, and he is to be invested with powers of prosecution on suspicion alone. If that is not Gestapo methods I don’t know what is. The whole set-up is very unhealthy. Frankly, I fail to see whom these regulations are going to benefit. A good deal of luxury building has been going or., but most of it has been done under directio. I dno onkt’ done under direction. I don’t know how they are going to explain that away.” Another building contractor, whose business involves mostly repair work, said the new regulations were going to bring his business almost- to a standstill.