Captain TERRELLasked the, Minister of Health whether, seeing that 1226W building contractors are now asserting that the cost of an average corporation house built to-day would be only about one-third or one-fourth less than the cost 12 months ago, he will say whether within that period such houses have been built for about one-half the cost specified; and whether, in the opinion of the Department, there is any attempt to force prices up?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINTenders recently approved show a fall of approximately 30 per cent. from the prices tendered in the early part of last year, and there is no reason to suppose that this reduction of tender prices differs materially from that which has taken place concurrently in the cost of building. There are not at present any indications of attempts to force up building prices.