Evening journal., 1920-03-12
ENGLAND PLANS
MANY new Homes
Estimates That Abnormal
Conditions of Living Will
Last Over Seven Years
WORKING PEOPLE
NEED QUARTERS

NEW YORK. March i2-Seven years
IS the official estimate Of the length OF
time that will elapse before normal
conditions Of living are restored in
Great Britain. according TO advices re-
ecivad by the Bankers Trust Company
from its London correspondent. Ihal
the British Government has confidence
in The accuracy OF this estimate is IN
dicaied by lhe plans it has adopted Tor
financing the great national housihs
campaign, now well under way.
Almost 100000 homes for WORKING
peoples are needed In the United KING
dom. Housing congestion during the
war and since has constituted one OF
England's serious internal prop ms
To insure adequate building OF work
ingmen's home the Government mas
subsidized the building industry. Thls
subsidy is variously applied to prl-
vate building. building by societies.
and community building The seven
years estimate figures in the COM
munity housing subsidy.
Brliish local authorities are, by the
neN housing act, made directly re-
sponsible for the housing or workers
in ghoir respective communities. lney
are required TO estimate the numDer
of houses needed in their districts ana
IN provide them for renting so FAR as
thev win not be provided by other
agencies Local communities VIII Dear
ne cost IND 10 a liability moi exceeding
ibe return from a tax levy at the rate
~ nenee on the pound The excess
cost II any. and deficits incurred
through low rental plans, and depre-
,eiate5 valuations will be met by
Government grant
Because construction COSTS are con-
sidered 10 be higher now than lhey
win be in future. local authorities are
authorized 10 place the valuations OF
,heir neN houses at only two-thirds !
of their cost. They are also permit
ted 10 rent them at lss than the eco
nomic" or carrying. rentals SO as TO
bring fhem within the means OF wage
earners.
At ihe end Of seYcn years when, It
Is believed general conditions VIII
have reached a normal adjustment,
lhc rents are TO be raised to the equiv
alent of am economic" return on me
iwo-ihirds valuation. To facilitate the
financing Of housing programs local
auihor'ii are authorized TO issue
3 10 rer cent. bonds for ,, 10 and 20
wears secured on the local rates and
revenue and issued in denominations OF
revenue
Privre construction IS to be en-
couraeed by a bonus system through /
a Government grant Of approximately
SIS .OO0Oa0. with bonuses averaging
about $3.50 per house offered to build
erz. who complete workmen's houses
within the next year One OF the con-
dllions Is ,hai no more than 20 houses /
are i0 be erected TO the acre.
THE proposal to public utility soci-
eiies erecting workmen's homes in q |
loan az - per cent OF the necessary
cap,ial by ihe Government and the /
10 contribute about 30
Ter cent Of the interest charges on the
0ia' amount invested.
Supervision Of the campaign is vested
'n ihe Ministry Of Health. and Wis
count Astor. Secretary Of the Ministry,
recently declared the movement TO be
more than a mere housing proict lie I,
q is as the rebuilding Of
England Removal Of city slums and
general Improvement in conditions Of II
living are contemplated.
The Ministry OF Health is aiming
st the erection Of 500OO0'houses with
in three years II possible: 100000 TO
be completed within IL months. Re =