BUILDING IN DUNEDIN

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 7

BUILDING IN DUNEDIN

- ffhere ip at present a mild building boom in Dunedin. From that statement it is not to be pre-timed that the housing problem is to be settled by a spurt, of activity that will result, in homes for the homeless with all expedition. But at least it is satisfactory to note on reference to the corporation building surveyor s records that the majority of building permits granted during the past three months have been for the erection of houses. For the first three months of the city 1922 year the permits to build houses numbered 32; for the corresponding period of this year they number 52. Taking ihe cost of materials and labour into consideration as well as the difficulty of securing suitable sections at a price within tho reach of the average man, tile increase of 20 must be considered satisfactory and an earnest cf the developments to be expected as money becomes more plentiful and on the day (seemingly in the distance) when costs fall appreciably. It is worthy of note that the permits so far granted this year are mostly for houses of the cheaper type, the majority of the values being given at from £6OO to £BOO. _ The work they entail is, however, sufficient to keep the builders busy and bricklayers especially are in eager demand and are, consequently, reaping a small harvest for their labours. Nor are there any carpenters in search of work. All are as fully employed as the weather will permit, and employers are not sticking at paying over the award rates to get good men. The daily wage is 1.7 s 2d, but there are a good many carpenters in receipt of £1 per day and some even more. For bricklayers as much as £7 10s, and over, per week is being paid on country jobs.