D—l

(c) £lO-4 millions fall in a field not previously subject to control, except where substantial quantities of critical materials have been involved. These works are chiefly in the field of local-body unsubsidized engineering works. Apart, from a progressive increase in the total of building permits by daily issues, there is to-day outstanding and ready to become a load upon the works industry a total of—(i) £l6-1 millions of work covered by building permits already issued and representing works not yet commenced or not yet completed. (ii) £lOl millions of building-permit applications for which approval has been deferred. Of the £l6-1 millions it is estimated £l2 millions will be completed during the year ending 31st. March,, 1948, and thus be a charge on this year's building capacity of £2l-73 millions. The remaining £4-1 millions will be a carry-over into 1948-49. During the twelve months ended 31st March, 1947, the Building Controller authorized the issue of 38,027 permits, viz.— (a;) Building projects other than housing . . 14,699 (b) State and other Government housing .. 3,166 (c) Private housing . . . . . . . . 11,329 (d) Housing additions . . . . .. . . 8,833 . 38,027

The following table sets out the classification of work covered by permits issued during the year:—

Permits for houses and housing additions aggregated, £22,487,023 in value and represented 74-7 per cent, of the total value of all permits issued. To this stage the statistical figures record permits authorized by the Building Controller. The following table, showing coverage of permits uplifted on. a district basis, is more factual, in that the figures record work actually proceeded with. It should, be understood that many applicants who are granted permits do not for one reason or another uplift their permits and proceed with the work immediately.

22

Type of Work. Permits approved. Permits deferred. Number. Value. Number. Value. Engineering 26 £ 98,085 2 £ 15 ,613 Hospitals 119 748,423 11 60 ,470. Schools .. 210 929,346 21 138 , 546 Other Government 386 504,987 16 163. ,526 Local bodies 160 268,220 26 110. ,380 Commercial 2,373 2,108,277 1,385 3,484. ,743 Factories 658 1,882,804 351 1,573. ,211 State housing 2,870 4,567,091 Other Government housing 296 428,291 1 1 : ,885 Rehabilitation housing 499 752,304 2 2. ,130 Private housing 10,830 15,024,535 511 692! .089 Housing additions 8,833 1,714,802 536 139. ,247 Community buildings 381 193,124 234 708. ,782 Farm buildings 2,838 535,148 46 24. ,047 Miscellaneous 7,548" 495,090 1,700 174. ,209 Totals 38,027 30,250,527 4,842 7,288. ,878