The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-03-27

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GOVERNMENT AID TO HOUSING
REFORM.
The Investment of Insurance Funds.
Students of housing reform now
have available a voluminous report
(No. 1881 Of the U. S. Bureau Of Labor
Statistics. It contains summaries and
detailed statements for each country,
particulars of legislation, methods of
administration, the extent and success
of operations fostered by public aid in
Europe.
1t is common observation that a
characteristic tendency of recent times,
with the great development Of industry,
has been the concentration of the popu-
lation into cities. With this growth
has come the problem of the over
crowding of dwellings and sanitary
conditions endangering the health of
the entire community.
The attempt has been made by health
regulations on the one hand, and by
building regulations on the other, to
correct unsanitary conditions where
they have existed and to prevent their
development in new buildings and in
new quarters.
But haphazard opening of new
streets and building sites in rapidly
growing areas, and cheap, speculative
building, liable to fall quickly into de-
cay, have constantly led to the develop
ment of new slum areas and of houses
unfit to be human dwellings and threat
ening the health of the community.
inadequacy Of Private Initiative in Pro-
vidins Housing.
In the larger cities the question Of
cheap and, at the same time sanitary,
dwellings for workingmen of small
earnings has in many cases become
an acute one. The ordinary means of
supply by the erection of houses by
capitalists for investment have rarely
proved adequate. So we find national,
state and local housing commissions,
societies for the promotion of the cree
ton Of workmen's dwellings, and every
where the conclusion that private ini-
tiative has proved inadequate to deal
with the problem, and that systematic
government regulation, encouragement,
and financial aid must be given.
Methods Of Government Aid in Europe.
Most European countries have, as a
result of investigation and study,
enacted legislation providing for gov.
eminent aid in one form or another
for the better housing of the working
people. The method of granting this
government aid differs greatly in detail
in various countries, but the form in
which the aid is given may be de-
scribed as of three main classes.
1. Building directly, for rental or
sale.
(a) For governments own employ
ees. National, as in Austria, Germany,
Hungary and Roumania. State or
provincial, as in Germany, Switzerland
and Roumania. Municipal, as in Ger.
many, Hungary and Roumania.
(b) For working people generally,
as in France, Germany, Great Britain,
Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
2. Making loans of public funds Tin
GLIDING also government guaranty of
loans) to
(a) Local authorities, as in Austria,
Belgium. Denmark, Germany, Great
Britain, Hungary, Luxembourg, Sweden
and Norway.
CO., Non-commercial building asso.
Citations. as in Austria, Belgium (by
savings bank whose deposits are guar.
anteed), Denmark, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Meth.
erlands, Sweden and Norway.
(c) Employers, as in Germany, Great
Britain and Luxembourg.
(d) Individuals, as in Germany
Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand
and Norway.
3. Granting exemptions from or
concessions in taxes or fees or grant.
ing some other form of subsidy to
building associations or others, as in
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany
Italy. Hungary, Roumania, Spain
Switzerland, Australia and New Zea.
land.
1t should be noted that classed under
the loans of public funds are the loans
which have been made of the funds OF
the state accident and sickness insur
ance associations in Austria and of the
funds of the invalidity and old-age in
surance institutes in France and IL
Germany. These loans in German,
represent the most important financial
aid to housing anywhere developed
having reached a total of over $11s,
100000.
Loans Of Public Funds to Public Wei
fare Building Associations.
By these various methods European
countries have expended millions Of
public funds to aid in the erection Of
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