D—l

Enamel Baths Material and labour difficulties continue to limit local manufacture, and deliveries lag considerably behind orders. The shortage is being overcome largely by increased importations, stocks being gradually built up. The improvization formerly adopted to enable houses to be occupied should no longer be necessary. Galvanized Wrought-iron and Steel Tubes There has been no improvement in the supply of these materials and progress on the reticulation of areas requiring the larger-sized pipes in particular has been delayed. An early improvement is not anticipated. However, no effort is being spared to make our requirements known, and it is hoped that the anticipated freer supply of steel will be beneficially reflected in the supply of iron and steel pipes. BUILDING CONTROL Government policy in giving greater emphasis to housing has resulted in a record number of houses being completed during the year. In part this achievement is due to the increase which took place in the available labour force during the previous year, but in the main to freer supplies of materials, notably timber. The total number of building permits authorized during 1948-49 was 49,295, classified as follows : (а) State and other Government housing .. •• 4,652 (б) Private housing .. .. .. .. ... 11,878 (c) Housing additions .. .. •• •• •• 8,680 (d) Works and buildings other than housing .. .. 24,085 49,295 The undermentioned table details applications dealt with during the year :

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Type of Work. Permits Authorized. Applications Deferred. Slumber. Value. I Number. j Value. Engineering Hospitals Schools Other Government .. • • Local bodies Commercial Factories State housing Other Government housing Rehabilitation housing Private housing Housing additions Community buildings Farm buildings Maintenance — Buildings Other works Miscellaneous 67 129 387 641 302 3,798 473 3,973 679 248 11,630 8,680 711 3,433 1,594 38 12,512 £ 1,674,734 707,609 1,462,584 1,275,605 371,944 2,683,260 816,891 7,035,835 1,034,324 409,889 17,722,180 2,000,455 539,085 748,029 239,883 21,956 812,959 8 6 27 12 22 804 158 712 567 125 20 24 1 1,463 £ 9,410 29,202 27,424 139,548148,823 2,691,583 780,087 1,145,508 169,215 255,364 5,006 10,033 176 142,698 Total .. 49,295 39,557,222 3,949 5,554,077