§ Mr. C. Smithasked the Minister of Works what the rise in the level of building material prices is estimated to have been between the beginning of the year and the end of September, 1946; in respect of which materials price advances have taken place; whether all these have been authorised by his Department; where they have been authorised and on what grounds; what the production and labour force was for each material concerned at the beginning and end of the period, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that in any case where the productivity of labour appears to have increased during
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TABLE. Material. Unit. December, 1945. September, 1946. Monthly Production. Labour. Monthly Production. Labour. Bricks, all types* Nos. … 16,142 39,771 000's … 114,203 363,758 Metal Windows, etc. Nos. … 5,922 8,481 Tons … 2,928 5,665 Sand and Gravel Nos. … 7,294 8,817 Cu. Yds. … 1,392,000 2,081,457 Salt Glazed Pipes and Conduits, etc. Nos. … 4,276 7,212 Tons … 20,251 37,858 Roofing Slates Nos. … 3,992 4,894 Tons … 6,773 9,832 Glazed Tiles* Nos. … 3,946 7,221 Sq. Yds. … 284,437 487,396 Glass Nos. … 8,650 10,100 Cwts. … 418,343 548,860 Sanitary Ware* Nos. … 5,938 Units … 116,299 215,587 Clay Roofing Tiles* Nos. … 3,321 5,538 Sqrs. … 21,146 50,260 Wall Partition Blocks (Clay)* Nos. … 283 Sq. Yds. … 55,187 134,636 * Composite Industries. the period this has been taken fully into account by his Department in deciding whether any price advance was justified.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe level of building material prices increased between the beginning of the year and the end of September by an amount varying on the whole from 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. according to the type and location of building. The materials for which I am responsible and in which increases of maximum price have been announced are given in the table following this reply together with such approximate figures as are available of the production and labour forces at the beginning and end of the period. The price increases received my sanction which was given on the ground of increased operational costs due mainly to advances in wages, fuel and transport charges. The reply to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.