PLENTY OF WORK FOR BUILDERS IN ERECTING HOUSES

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1949, Page 4

PLENTY OF WORK FOR BUILDERS IN ERECTING HOUSES

Wanganui builders are still finding plenty of work to do, but a shortage Gf skilled tradesmen is hampering the activities of some firms. The relaxation of the building controls to enable a person to build a house of 1300 square feet proving it contains three genuine bedrooms is expected to add a stimulus to building.

While the construction of State houses in Wanganui is not at a high level and is confined chiefly to those being built by Rehabilitation Department carpentry trainees, private enterprise is building homes in all parts of the city at such ? speed that the figures for this year may well set a record for the city. There is hardly a street in Wanganui where a new house is not under construction and sections are becoming more difficult to buy. Sections that once would not have attracted even passing notice are now being snapped up and levelled out by bulldozers, land that would otherwise be uneconomic now/ being used to advant Ige. The demand for housing has resulted in many new firms springing up, ex-servicemen in many cases setting up in business on ihelr own account after their discharge from the armed forces. There is ample work for these small concerns at the present time apart from housing construction in carrying out alterations and additions Io existing premises. Shortages of skilled labour and certain materials, however, is limiting the speed at which houses can be built, but on? carpenter told a .eporter that it was a good thing because it enabled the timber to get Well seasoned. Much of the timber coming to hand today was very green and the delays in building a house gave the sap a chance to dry out. MANY SEEKING HOMES There is still a keen demand for homes in Wanganui and the list of prospective tenants for State rental houses is still formidable. At the present rate of progress of the construction of State houses it is considered that it will be a long time before the leeway is made up. Cases of people living in crowded conditions and of several families living in one house are still just as prevalent and only those with high priorities can at present be attended to. A city land agent stated that there were still many inquiries for houses and that houses for rental purposes were hard to secure. People who have advertised for flats, houses or even rooms have found tittie response to their pleas.