Chairman's Report for period up to November, 1926. Presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: 15, Donegall Square West, Belfast; or through any Bookseller. 1927. Price 4d. Net. Cmd. 2787. To survey the prices of building materials and to receive and consider complaints in respect thereof, and to report from time to time to the Minister of Health and the President of the Board of Trade as to the facts, and in particular as to the extent to which in any case the price appears to be unduly high by reason of the operation of any trade combination, trust or agreement. CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE. Major J. W. Hills, M.P. (Chairman). A. V. Alexander, Esq., M.P. Sir Theodore Chambers, K.B.E. Sir J. Walker Smith, M.Inst.C.E. C. E. France, Esq. G. Hicks, Esq. C. K. Hobson, Esq., M.B.E. H. T. Holloway, Esq. J. Stanley Holmes, Esq. H. J. C. Johnston, Esq. W. T. Lancashire, Esq., M.Inst.C.E. Lieut.-Col. C. B. Levita, C.B.E., M.V.O., D.L., J.P. D. Ronald, Esq., M.Inst.C.E. W. H. Wright, Esq. Secretary to the Committee, P. DAVENPORT, ESQ. Note. The cost of printing and publishing this Report is estimated by the Stationery Office to be £10 10s. 3d. Το SIRS, The Right Hon. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., Minister of Health, and The Right Hon. Sir FHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTER, K.B.E., M.C., M.P. I have the honour to submit a schedule showing the prices of building materials during the month of November, 1926. For purposes of comparison, the schedule includes also prices for April, 1914, and January, 1924. The period between May, for which month prices were last published, and November, corresponds roughly with the period of the coal stoppage, and as might be expected, those materials. into the manufacture of which the use of coal largely enters have advanced in price. Common bricks, apart from Flettons, show general rises of varying amounts. The prices of facing bricks have also risen, sometimes to a greater extent than those of common bricks. There has been a general increase in the price of Portland cement, the rise in England amounting, with slight local variations, to 10s. per ton, and in Scotland to 15s. per ton. Cast Iron goods.-Rainwater goods show increases amounting generally to 12 per cent., and baths have risen in price by 5 per cent. Prices of ranges have also gone up except in Scotland. In the Committee's Fifth Interim Report, reference was made to the special prices quoted for goods for housing schemes, supplied by members of the National Light Castings Association, and for the guidance of Local Authorities these special prices are now, where ascertainable, indicated in the schedule. Glazed ware. Varying increases are registered in the prices both of W.C.'s and sinks, the increases in Scotland being higher than those in England. The price of tiles has moved upwards in several districts. On the other hand lead, the price of which, after falling up to May last, subsequently rose, now shows signs of again declining, the fall being most noticeable in Scotland. (B 32/965)Q A 2 While timber has increased in price in some districts, this is off-set by decreases in other districts. Prices of other articles do not call for special comment. The Committee have carefully reviewed existing prices and have taken note of the various increases recorded. Having regard to the abnormal industrial conditions of the past few months, they are of opinion that it would not serve any useful purpose to analyse particular prices for the time being, but they propose to keep close watch over the movements of prices in the immediate future, and they will again review the position as soon as a period of stability has been reached. I have the honour to be, Sirs, P. DAVENPORT, 22nd December, 1926. (Signed) JOHN W. HILLS, |
