I)— 1

Permits operated on

MATERIAL SUPPLY Associated with building control the question of material supply. It is appreciated that control in all its forms is negative in character and a solution of the difficulties most acceptable would be an increase in the materialsupply position. Throughout the year every endeavour has been made to secure this, and this office has utilized to the full all channels of supply available in New Zealand and overseas. The chief difficulties internally are those of transport—shipping and rail—and man-power in the producing industries. External to New Zealand there is also fierce competition for all building-materials, and in this field also bottlenecks are constantly occurring due to demand exceeding supply and to lack of shipping. The importance of securing increased bulk] supplies is well recognized by the Government, and, as you are aware, a special committee has been set up in this connection. Some improvement can be expected for the current year, 1947-48, and it is likely the position will substantially improve in the year to follow as the result of steps which are being taken now to improve production and transport. The following schedule covers the supply position of the principal buildingmaterials for the building year 1947-48 so far as this can be foreseen: — Cement (Demand, 300,000 tons; estimated production, 200,000 tons) The actual d,emand is approximately 400,000 tons, but it is considered that industry, because of the man-power factor, could not use more than 300,000 tons. The capacity of New Zealand plants is 315,000 tons, but, due to transport and plant maintenance problems and shortage of coal, these works are producing (in total) only about two-thirds of capacity. Arrangements have been made to import cement, although the amount to be received will undoubtedly be limited by the availability of shipping to perhaps 25,000 tons for the year. Existing plant extensions and new plant proposals cannot become effective within the next two years.

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District. Private Houses. State Houses. Other Works. Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Auckland Hamilton Palmerston North Napier Wellington Christchurch Dunedin 3,734 1,381 941 739 1,442 1,517 874 £ 5,227,600 1,933,400 1,317,400 1,034,600 2,018,800 2,123,800 1,223,600 896 453 275 180 694 339 329 £ 1,415,592 714,381 433,675 283,860 1,094,438 534,603 518,833 3,001 1,876 339 403 1,868 2,664 2,633 £ 1,955,530 760,340 911,060 469,497 914,865 1,301,029 1,505,181 10,628 14,879,200 3,166 4,995,382 12,784 7,817,502 Total 27,69^,084