DEARER HOUSES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16260, 29 October 1920, Page 8

DEARER HOUSES.

TIMBER UP AGAIN. STARTLING FIGURES. Ihere has been another rise in the cost of building timber and the day of cheaper houses seems further off than ever. The latest quotation list inspected to-day shows that merchants have put another Is on every 100 superficial feet of ordinary timber, Is 3d on half-inch lining, Is 3d on flooring, la 9d on T., and G. lining, and Is on selected timber. This, according to one builder, makes a 20 per cent increase in' the past six months, and well over 100 per cent since 1914. . “I see no chance whatever of reducing the cost of building houses,” said the builder. “ Like other notifications, the latest says at 'the foot ‘ subject * to alteration without further notice.’ That means often that when wo are half way through a contract wo have to pay higher for the balance of the necessary timber supplies. Once we could bo sure of getting through the job at the stipulated price. The present state of affairs hinders trade all round and keeps houses short.” A house which cost £760 to erect six years ago now means an expenditure of between £I3OO and £IOOO, according to location. A striking example of the increases in timber was given by a contractor, who furnished details as follows regarding an estimate for 100 links of fencing, rimu rails, black pine posts, and half-inch red pine boards:— On Jupe 18, 1920, he contracted to do the job for £ll 10s. On October 14 for £l3 14s. On October 22 for £l4 2s. The following comparative table shows how material has gone up in price.:— 1911. 1920. .£sd £ s d Timber, per 100 sup. feet— Ord. building rimu . 013 3 111 0 Ton B ued and ' grooved lining . . . .0 18 6 273 Clean heart rimu . . 1 7 0 215 3 Clean heart nsatai flooring and weather ■' . boa s J •- • .13 6 219 0 C;ean heart totara . 110 6 3 5 o Bricks, per 1000 . 212 0 5 2 0 Cement, per. bag, 18 bags to ton . ' . .38 O' 713 '0 Krofang Iron, per ton .2000 70 0 0 Nails, per ton . . .HOOC2 10 0'