Real estate boom over

Christchurch: “I honestly believe that the boom has burst,” said a Christchurch land agent to a Star representative yesterday. He gave as his chief reasons for this development the withdrawal of advances to returned

soldiers and settlers, and the high prices of building materials. “There are at present about 100 land agents in Christchurch,” he said. Five years ago there were about 40. The boom came along just after the Armistice and the man who saw its possibilities got into the business. Most of them did well. The housing problem is still as acute as ever, but prices have risen to such an extent that people cannot buy. The price of timber has made some big rises lately. The fact that there is little money at present available for returned soldiers has made a great difference.