Evening star., 1936-04-22
BRITAIN'S HOUSING
ADVANCES TOLD
New Deal Officials Hear
Londoner Detail SIum
War Policy.

ing classes" Herbert Morrison, preSi-
dent of the London County Council,
yesterday told a prominent group of
New Deal officials and labor leaders
at a luncheon conference on housing.
Great Britain has passed from the
period of experimentation and ena-
bling legislation to that Of compul-
sorry housing, Morrison declared, with
the result that he predicted London
will be rid Of all its slums in few
years. Indicating the length Parlia-
ment has gone to assure better hous-
ing for workmen of low incomes, he
said there is now law making it
criminal offense" to overcrowd ten
ement.
The luncheon meeting was Spon-
sored by the American Federation OF
Labor and its building trades depart
ment. Morrison was introduced by
William Green, president of the A. F.
of L., as one who has been closely
associated with a housing program
that challenges the admiration of all"
Member of Parliament.
The distinguished visitor, the Amer
lean labor leader pointed out, is
member of Parliament, former min
iSter of transportation. head of the
important London County Council
and a leader in the British Labor
party. Yet he is the son of London
policeman" Green added.
Special guests attending the lunch
con included Secretary of Labor Fran
ces Perkins, Dr. ReXford Tugwll, di-
rector of the Resettlemet Administra-
ton, and Senator Robert F. Wagner
of New York, whose S876, 200, 900
housing bill is pending in the Senate.
Others at the speakers table were
j. w. Williams, president of the build
ing trades department; Representa-
tive Curley of New York, Representa-
tive Woods of Missouri, Frank Nor
riSon. secretary of the A. F. Of L., and
Helen Alfred and Mary Sunkovitch,
secretary and chairman, respectively,
of the Public Housing Conference.
Praising Senator Wagner's bill as
"skillfully drawn" Morrison suggested
that it proposes very different policy
than that of Great Britain's, but
added. your country is different.
No Competition by Government.
In reply to a question, he assured
the meeting that the British program
is not entering into competition with,
and has little or no effect on. private
building. THAT is because" he pointed
out, private enterprise in Britain
since the World War has concentrated
on building dwellings for sale or for
profitable rent to the middle classes
who can afford to pay" Few, if any.
houses, he said, have been built pri-
vately for the working classes OF the
lowest incomes.
Analysing the British program since
its inception in 1890, Morrison ex-
planned it was founded on the popular
British theory that 1t is proper for
municipalities to engage in business
that cannot be conducted by private
interests with profit.
The London County Council, he
said, is now owner and landlord of
$4,000 homes, which, however, create
an annual deficit of about f1,500,000.
This deficit is shared about equally
between the county government and
the tenants.
Explains Financing.
Questioned by Senator Wagner
about the financing, Morrison eX-
planned that the capital is raised by
local authorities on loans handled as
cheaply as the government can bor-
row. which is now 3 per cent. Minor
local authorities, he said, may borrow
from insurance and lending companies
on mortgages placed on the property.
Then there is also a Public Works
Loan Board which lends on mort
cages to local authorities.
In some cases, he said, loans are
made to families to build or buy
homes.
"As long as housing is confined to
the people who cannot afford to pay
higher rent or buy from private build
ers. there is no objection" he said.
'On the whole, the program has slim
ulated employment in the building
trades"
Unemployment in the London build
Ing trades is relatively small, he ex-
planned, and small generally through
out Britain.
Discussing land condemnation,
which has proved setback in this
country, he explained that the prob
lem is decisively met in London.
The housing program is under the
minister Of health, and when tene-
ment or slum area is declared by a
medical officer to be insanitary or un-
f1t for habitation it is quickly con-
demned.
Payment is made not upon the
value of the land and the improve
ments on it, in condemnation cases,
but only on the land itself.
IF We condemn meat as spoiled, we
don't pay for the meat" he said. "It
IS the same with an unfit house"
Public Housing Pays Taxes.
Public housing properties in Britain
pay the same kind of taxes, he said,
as private housing.
Senator Wagner questioned the
speaker about the effects of good
housing on health and crime.
1T is absolutely conclusive" Nor
rison replied, that housing has
definitely saved large numbers from
disease and saved others from death"
From the point of view of crime re-
duction, he said housing also has been
, beneficial.
Britain has met the wage problem
In its housing program along the lines
the Public Works Administration in
the United States is following. The
"fair wage clause" in all contracts,
Morrison pointed out, insures payment
of what constitutes the prevailing
wage" or union rate. in this country.
Senator Wagner was interested in
knowing how families are provided for
during the period they are taken from
the slums and placed in the new
homes built for them.