A New Paris

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7066, 27 January 1933, Page 11

A New Paris

PLANS BEING MADE ~ SOME STARTLING CHANGES Until only a few years ago Paris wap, geographically, tho most conservative capital in tho world. Technically, even now, the area of Paris proper is no larger than the Paris of 1840, when the ring of fortifications marking us boundary was built. Thoro are still some conservative Parisians who believe that Paris docs not stretch beyond the old line of fortifications, that it has a population of less than three millions, and that everything beyond tho line is “banlieuo” (suburb) and consequently of no importance. Unfortunately this conservative spirit is not foreign to the Paris Town Council itself, and thero are numerous facts which show that, although tho municipal organisation of Paris is admirable in many ways little thought was given for a long time to the densely populated area outside the city boundary. Even now—to quote ono example in many—not a single lino of tho Metro, tho excellent Paris underground system, goco beyond tho line of tho 1840 fortifications. Every Metro terminus has the name of a “gato”—Porte Chaporret, Porte de Lilas, Porte d’Orleans, and so on—-seventeen “portes” in all. Thero is something truly medieval alb out the plan of the Paris underground railway. And although the Paris fortifications, whoso practical uselessness became apparent during the war, have been Tazed to the ground during the past few years, the old distinction between Paris and “banlieuc” still persists in manay minds, says a writer in tho Manchester Guardian. Parliament Acts,

However, the changos in Paris and in tho Paris region have boon so startling during the past ten or fifteen yeass that the old prejudice is now dying fast. In 1931 Parliament passed a bill setting up a special committee which was to study tho means of replanning and ‘ ‘ urbanising” the Paris region within an eighteen-mile radius from the centre of tho town, and the conception of a “Greater Paris” thus received official recognition. Tho population of Paris proper is stationary, and is even showing a tendency to decline. The census of March, 1931, showed that there were 2,871,000 inhabitants in Paris proper. This was 32,000 more than in 1926; but sinco then a small section of the fortifications” area, with a population of about 40,000, has been incorporated in Paris. In reality, therefore, the population of the capital showed a slight decline. In several parts of the town tho decline was considerable. Owing to tho recent extension of tho underground the population on the outskirts of tho town had, on tho copntrary, increased to some extent ,and during the building boom of 1925-30 thousands of modern flats had been built in North, East and South Paris—areas which until recently had been almost exclusively working-class and which were not considered “respectable.” The Thrifty Revolt. ' Strangely enough, these modern flats, with their lifts, central heating, and hot and cold water, have not been as popular as their builders expected, and that for several reasons, Tho proprietors of these vast blocks of flats were under the delusion that the French public would be fascinated by tho words “comfort modems” and pay any price for the privilege of enjoying it. They wero wrong; until quite recently, at least, the rent foT a three-room “comfort modetne” flat—usually in a “disreputable” neighbourhood—was near £l9O (at par)—a price which most of the French refused to pay “on principle.” A large proportion of these "'modern” flats arc, indeed, occupied by foreigners, who are not expert house-hunters.

Tho French also objected to these flats on other grounds—the rooms aTO too small, the flats on the lower floors, especially those facing the courtyard, are miserably dark, and they also lack privacy. Many of the houses are built in such a way that the pianos, wireless, and gramophones of tho upstairs, downstairs, and next-door neighbours arO enough to drive one insane. Such “comfort” is too “modern” for French tastes. It is too much like living in barracks. Going to the Suburbs.

Shortly after tho war there were a hundred applicants for any vacant flat in Pans; to-day them ate at least 20,000 empty flats in Paris which cannot find a tenant. Rather than settlo in ono of these “modern” fiats many Parisians now prefer to settle outside Paris in a little house and with a littlo garden of their own. The famous Louehour Housing Act of 1927 granting extensive credit facilities for building these small houses greatly stimulated the migration from Paris into the “rural” suburbs. 'When the transport facilities improve tho exodus will no doubt become oven more marked.

The Paris “region” has grown enormously since tho war, and has now a population of nearly six millions (including Paris proper). There are thus some three million “Greater Parisians” living outside the 1840 boundary. Although there is a marked tendency among the Parisians to move into the suburbs, the chief increase in the suburban. population has come from outside—from provincial France.