D—l

The value of permits issued for housing and housing additions—viz., £28,202,603 — represents 71*3 per cent, of the value of all permits authorized. The total value of works completed during 1948-49 covered by permits and assessed ■on permit values amounted to £39 millions. The value of deferred applications has increased from £ll-2 millions to £l4-9 millions. In keeping with Government policy to remove restrictions on building construction as soon as circumstances permit, building control policy was kept under constant review during the year. A measure of relaxation and decentralization was made effective from December last, delegating local bodies wider powers to authorize permits of various classes without reference to District Building Controllers. Additional authority was issued to District Building Controllers to authorize works without Head Office approval, thereby speeding up the procedure in dealing with applications. During the coming year further reviews will be carried out, with particular reference to outstanding applications which have been deferred. CONTKACTS The following statement shows the number and value of contracts let during the year by the respective Tenders Boards :

During the year, tendering has shown a tendency towards keener competition, particularly for civil engineering works. HOUSING AND BUILDINGS In Great Britain, Canada, the United States, and such parts of Europe as I visited a very serious housing shortage exists, and in every case this was receiving the urgent attention of the Government concerned. The methods by which this shortage was being overtaken varied from one country to another, but in all cases considerable Government assistance was supplied. In Great Britain the responsibility for housing is vested in the local authorities. The proposals of these authorities carry a substantial Government subsidy, but, in part at least, are also financed from the rates. The responsibility for selecting tenants remains with the local authority. Control was very restrictive, and while local authorities were permitted to issue one permit for every three subsidized houses built, in effect little private building was being done.

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Buildings (Includes .Alterations, Engineering. Total. - Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. District Tenders Board— Auckland Hamilton Napier Wanganui Wellington Christ-church Dunedin 45 26 15 28 103 50 48 £ 66,731 21,997 10,854 43,180 j 85,660 67,657 47,535 45 32 27 12 39 41 35 £ 101,868 42,801 52,546 21,780 55,786 78,134 48,870 | 90 58 42 40 142 91 83 £ 168,599 64,798 63,400 64,960 141,446 145,791 96,405 Totals for district Boards Tenders Board, Head Office .. 315 38 343,614 767,201 231 61 401,785 1,382,819 546 99 745,399 2,150,020 Grand totals 353 1,110,815 292 1,784,604 645 2,895,419