Evening star., 1936-12-10
EUROPE L0CAL|zES
HOUS|NGPROBLEM
Plans Made to Cooperate
With National Program,
Fisher Finds.
BY ERNEST M. FISHER,
Director of the Division of Economics
and Satisfies, Federal Housine
it1iS Of

BY ERNEST vi. t1ShEh,
Director of the Division of Economics
and Satisfies, Federal HOUSING
Administration.
DR.. Fisher recently returned
from tour OF seUerdl European
countries uith DR.. Richard U. Rat
cliff OF the same diuision in Which
they made a surrey OF housing
conditions in these countries. Their
report has not yet been made
public. The tollotDing iD1S t0ritten
exclusively for the Associated
Press.
Housing problems in Europe are
recognized as primarily local matters.
Each city with its own peculiar prob
lens or special housing needs feels
that these matters are best dealt with
through local action.
In the early days of the English
housing movement the powers re-
ouired by individual cities in the So
luton of their housing difficulties were
provided by special acts of Parlia-
ment. Later national legislation was
passed which was permiSSive rather
than mandatory. The unsatisfactory
progress under this policy eventually
led to mandatory legislation.
In effect, the central government
ordered the local authorities to i'm
prove housing conditions or have
them improved by the central gov
ernment at their expense. 1t is true,
Of course, that any plans developed
locally are required to fall within the
broad structure of national policy and
to receive specific approval of the
central government. Furthermore,
technical advice is available to the
local authorities and in many cases
financial aid is provided. The state
recognizes that broad guiding prin-
ciples must be laid down for local
authorities in order to insure con-
sistent housing policy and that in
certain cases technical and financial
assistance may be necessary.
Municipalities Responsible.
1t is the custom to allow consider
able latitude in the local adaptation
of national policies and to place the
responsibility for initiating the various
attacks upon local housing prob
lens on the municipal government.
Even though loans or grants or guar
anteeS are made by the central gov
ernment, some financial responsible
ity is generally placed on the local
authorities. In many cases each
grant by the state must be matched
by an equal grant on the part of the
local government. Joint guarantees
OF private loans are occasionally used.
In most countries further decen-
tralization of administering the hous-
ing policy is characteristic. Public
utility societies and housing co-opera-
tives form this third step. The local
authorities keep a guiding hand on
the operations of the housing associa-
tions, lease public land for their de-
velopment, provide them with funds
either through direct loans or the
guarantee of mortgages and, in some
countries, acquire their properties at
the expiration Of the lease or when the
loan is amortized.
Local Control Retained.
Rarely does the central govern
ucAI dIVcAlpG uIeCt housing opera
tions of any kind. Local authorities
prefer to retain as much control as
possible in the solution of local prob
lens and the administration of local
affairs in the field of housing as well
as in all other fields.
The function of the various local
authorities involves the initiation of
action under the housing acts, the
preparation Of plans and programs
for the approval Of the central gov
ernment and the actual work of carry
ing out the plans.