BUILDING IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 7

BUILDING IN BRITAIN

CONSTRUCTION DOUBLED

OVERTAKING HOUSE SHORTAGE,

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian-New Zealand Cable Assn.)

LONDON, 25th August

A report on bousing shows that the number of houses, built in Britain has doubled within two years, while the houses under construction have nearly doubled. The report makes it clear that substantial progress Is now being made to overtake the shortage.

The progress in housing in Britain appears to. have been made under the Wheatley Housing Act, passed by Parliament in July, 1924, during the brief term of office of the Labour Ministry. The author of the. Act was Mr. John Wheatloy, then Minister of Health, who, in introducing his Bill, described the 1923 Act as a complete failure. An agreement had since been reached with tho building industry, based on a fixed annual output of houses. At the end of three years there would be a stocktalcing, and if the averago output agreed upon wero not maintained, the agreement would be terminated. The Bill provided for subsidies to local authorities over a term of years.

The primary object was to secure continuity in the building of working-class houses, and Parliament was asked to guarantee financial support for fifteen years to enable the industry to extend its resources in men, materials, and finance The building industry was given three years in which to carry out its promise. This it has apparently fulfilled.