Evening star., 1942-12-13
Housing Association
Hears Britain 5 Plan
For Postwar BUILDING
Sir Ernest Simon ExpIoins
Program; New Influx Of
Workers Here Predicted

Great Britain is planning a 80
year postwar housing program in
which public needs must be para
mount to private desires, Sir Ernest
Simon, representing the British
Ministry of Works and Planning,
said here yesterday.
Addressing the ninth annual
meeting of the Washington Hous-
ing Association at the Mayfiower.
Sir Ernest said the British building
program, to be successful, would
have to achieve three things: Recon-
cile the trades unions to providing
more skilled workers. reconcile pri-
vate builders to greater public build
Ing and induce private landowners
to part with their land for public
housing purposes. In imagination
and drive concerning big projects,
Britain has much to learn from
America" the speaker asserted.
New Influx Predicted.
Discussing the relation of hous-
ing to the rapid Federal Govern
ment civilian personnel turnover,
other speakers said Washington can
expect an influx of another $4,000
war workers in addition to thou
sands brought here for employment
with public utilities, restaurants and
other trades and services, between
now and next summer.
J. Bernard Wyckoff. president Of
the association said dormitories now
being built and homes to be con-
verted will provide an increasing
choice of rooms" by next summer
That planning for postwar hous-
ing must be considered in relation
to the whole country's postwar eco
nomic rehabilitation, was theme
emphasized during a discussion fol-
lowing the formal addresses.
The population of Washington in
the past two years has grown 80
per cent and that of the outlying
areas "a per cent. declared Brig
Gen. U. S. Grant III. chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission At the turn of
the century washington had out
grown the city as originally planned
by Maj L LEnfant. Gen. Grant added.
Sir Ernest said Britain learned
severe lesson after World War I.
With soldiers demobilized public
construction program designed to
provide employment was dropped
"by a Government which lost its
nerve" he said. Destruction caused
by German bombing in the present
war, he emphasized. compels Britain
to reconcile divergent interests.
"Our postwar planning" Sir
Ernest stated, must envision sew
eral generations. We will have to
consider manpower. housing needs
and the supply of needed materials.
After the last war and up to 1885
some 100000 houses were built in
our country by private investors and
the government The home owner
has q stake in his country and is
more likely to vote conservative.
Our public housing projects are
not unlike your Greenbelt Md
project. except for one thing: The
Englishman insists on his garden,
SO each of our homes has land for
garden, making US nation OF
gardeners. \
The United States does many
things on a scale too big for Eng
land Some of your public projects
are beyond our reach. I rather be-
lieve we in England shall stick to
the brick type of home. for it is cool
in summer and warm in winter"
Francis P. BraSSor of the Admin
istrative Service, Civil Service Com
mission. said he hoped housing con-
ditions here in the next nine months
would be improved through removal
of additional Federal units to other
cities; through part-tlme Govern
ment employment of local residents
and through use Of physically hand
icapped persons.
While $4,000 positions were in
volved in moving % Government
units from Washington, total OF
81 900 civilian employees were
brought here by the Government
in the 10 months following our
entry into war. Mr.. Brassor said.
Estimating the population OF Met
ropolitan Washington at 100000,
Mr.. Brassor asserted that "at no
time in the past decade has hous-
ing construction kept pace with
local needs"
OF the $4,000 new employees who
probably will be brought here in
the next nine months, approx
mately "a per cent will draw less
than $1,000 per year; 58 per cent
less than $500; so per cent will be
80
women, according to sample study
made in one week, the speaker de-
clared
re-planned City.
Asserting that Washington is the
one outstanding pre-planned city in
America, Gen. Grant told how this
city was expanded IS per cent dur
Ing the Civil War and another 35
per cent in the decade from 1870
to 1880 The Planning Commission,
he said. is vitally concerned with
Washingtons postwar develop
ment
Washington cannot be satisfied
while slums exist, asserted Leon H.
Keyserlng. general counsel of the
ifdtiOildl 11OuSAliS hSSIAS' IN coAA
the war housing program and post
war developments should be con-
sidered from three standpoints:
first, there should be developed ade-
quate plans on the physical side;
second, financial and legal tools to
supply this housing need; and third,
setting the housing program in the
context of the general problems OF
economic stabilization and expan-
sion after the war.
Alfred Rheinstein, WPB consult
ant, predicted that if employment
of women continues on large scale
after the war the home of 1852
will And all mechanical equipment
greatly increased and improved. "
From health standpoint. post
war housing must satisfy not only
the physiological and psychological
needs of the home buyer. but he
Les i.A 80 -