"STRATFORD EVENING POST" THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1928. REVIVAL OF BUILDING.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 24 May 1928, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1928. REVIVAL OF BUILDING.

For some considerable time past the building trade has been anything but brisk. Tarauaki has not stood alone in this respect, for, with the exception of the Wellington district, the trade all over the Dominion has been exceptionally inactive. The financial stringency has been responsible for the trouble, but there are now many positive indications that the tide has turned. In the four main centres the trade is benefitting by a movement for reconstruction of business premises and a growing demand for, residences. The Wellington district has shown the most rapid recovery and the building operations there have recently established a record. For the financial year just ended, building, work to the value of £2,024,291 has been completed, an increase of £3,458 on the next best record. These are city figures only, and if the value of permits issued by the suburban borough councils are included the total for greater Wellington is £2,657,236. In the residential areas, buidling is brisk and this is of importance as showing that the movement is general and is not confined to the erection of a few large business houses. Two large amounts, however, are included: £175,000 for the new D.I.C. building and £150,000 for the Majestic Theatre.

lii Lower Hutt 353 new house permits were issued the buidlings cost being approximately £350,000. There is a noteworthy increase in the erection of brick and concrete buildings. Petone has also registered a record number of applications for permits while many of the provincial towns north of Wellington have also recorded a satisfactory movement in the building and allied trades. In Palmerston, after suffering a heavy falling off during the year, (£253,528 as against £302,700'f0r 1927) building work is now showing a brighter tone and it is expected that with a greater freedom of finance a considerable impetus will be experienced this year. From New Plymouth also come reports of brighter prospects though, as yet, there is no decided movement in residential buildings.

Both Auckland and Wellington report a change for the better and it is probable that there will be a marked trade stimultion in the spring.