BETTER SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27213, 17 October 1949, Page 4

BETTER SUPPLY

BUILDING MATERIALS LEVELLING OF COSTS CONFIDENT PREDICTION A better supply of building materials and an easing in restrictions which will bring a general improvement to the industry generally is envisaged by Mr R. C. Love, president of the New Zealand Builders’ Federation. In an interview with a representative of the Daily Times at Invercargill, Mr Love said that the improvement might be gradual, but it was on the way. He was optimistic about the industry breaking from the unsettled state in which it had been confined during the past few years, and could see a brighter future for housing and industrial and commercial building.

Although costs had risen enormously, it was the shortage of materials that was creating most of the difficulties in the industry, Mr Love said. There was plenty of work available, but building was restricted by lack of material. As materials became more. obtainable, there would be a levelling of costs. Mr Love could not see any noticeable decline in the near future, however. An increased timber output, an assurance that cement would be imported until New Zealand works could cope with the demand, and the gradual improvement in the steel position were reasons given by Mr Love for the recent improvement within the building industry. There was every possibility that conditions would improve even more, he said.

The dearth of skilled men in all branches of the building trade was a difficulty that the industry had to face, Mr Love said. A small number of apprentices had been trained during the war, and the shortage had been aggravated by the drift of tradesmen to other industries. Building had been made an insecure trade by the restrictions and shortages of the past few years, and a large number of men had been lured to jobs which offered a more secure future..

Mr Love expects that, with the lifting of restrictions and an increase in supplies of materials, the position will right itself. Technical schools were at present being well attended, he said, and it looked as if there would be a normal supply of men within the next few years.