The Washington herald., 1920-03-14
BRITAIN NEEDS
MILLION HOMES
Seven Years Before Normal
Housing Conditions Can
Be Expected.
INDUSTRY SUBSIDIZED
Action Taken to Insure
Adequate Homes for
Workers.
INDUSTRY SUBSIDIZED
Seven wears Is the Official estimate

WOfkcIS.
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 received by the
Bankers Trust Company from it's
London correspondent. That the
British government has confidence
in the accuracy of this estimate is
indicated by the plans it has adopt
ed for financing the great national
he using campaign, now well under
way.
Almost 1000, 900 homes for work
ing people are needed in the United
Kingdom. Housing congestion dur
ing the war and since has consti-
tuted one of England's serious in
ternal problems. To insure ade-
quate building of workingmen's
homes the government has subsi-
died the building industry. This
subsidy Is variorsly applied to pri-
vate building, building by societies,
and community building. The seven
years estimate figures in the COM
munity housing subsidy.
British local authorities are, by
the new housing act. made directly
responsible for the housing Of
workers in their respective COM
munities. They are required to esti-
mate the number of houses needed
in their districts and to provide
trem for renting so far as they will
not be provided by other agencies.
Local communities will bear the
cost up to a liability not exceeding
the returns from a tax levy at the
rate of Id on the pound. The eX-
cess cost, il any. and deficits in
Cured through low rental plans,
and deprecated valuations, will be
met by a government grant.
Because construction costs are
considered to be higher now than
than they will be in future. local
authorities are authorized to place
the valuations of their new houses
at only two-thirds of their cost.
They are also permitted to rent
them at less than the economic"
or carrying. rentals so as to bring
them within the means OF wage
earners.
At the end of seven years, when.
it is believed. general conditions
will have reached a normal adjust
ment, the rents are to be raised to
turn of the two thirds valuation.
To facilitate the financing OF hous-
ing programs local authorities are
authorized to issue 5h per cent
bonds for five. ten and twenty
years. secured on the local rates
and revenue. and issued in denomi-
nations of IS, flo. 20, ESQ, f1o0 and
in multiples of f100.
Private construction Is to be en-
couraged by bonus system
through a government grant of ap-
proximately s75,000.O0O. with bon
uses averaging about f150 per
house offered to builders who COM
plete workmen's houses within the
next year. One of the conditions
is that no more than twenty houses
are to be erected to the acre.
The proposal to public utility So
cieties erecting workmen's homes
is a loan of. IS per cent of the nee
essary capital by the government.
and the government to contribute
about so per cent of the interest
charges on the total amount in
vested.
Supervision of the campaign is
vested in the ministry OF health
and Viscount Astor. secretary of the
movement to be more than a mere
housing project. He characterized
it as the rebuilding OF England"
Removal of city slums and general
Improvement in conditions of living
are contemplated.
The health ministry is aiming at
the erection of 100000 houses with
in three years. if possible; 100000
10 h. in 10
months. Reports up to the first
Of the year indicate that sites for
100000 houses had been purchased
in England and Wales. plans for
group construction of los. 900 houses
had been approved. and lO.40S were
under construction.
There are about $500 local gov
erning bodies in the United King
the majority of them have submit
ted housing schemes for approval.
Shortage of workers has been a
handicap to building progress. Be-
fore the war there were 100000 men
in the British building trades. To-
day there are only $4,000 to 100000.
Lack of bricklayers and necessity
for speedy progress has stimulated
the construction of wooden and
concrete houses. which are innova-
tions in Great Britain. Bids were
recently approved for the erection
Of 400 concrete houses and the Min
istry of Health is encouraging that
type. of construction. Official con-
sideration has also been given to
the possibility of using sheet steel
for dwelling house construction.
Among the larger municipal un-
dertakings, the London County
Council has acquired 5000 acres of
ground for the development OF a
housing scheme. In London 2.7OO
old houses have been listed for con-
version into fats and 843 have al
ready been altered by private en-
terprise. Birmingham has housing
schemes involving an outlay or
about S5,000.000 and is planning to
complete 1000 houses in two years.