VERSATILE PRINCE

Northern Advocate, 8 June 1933, Page 5

VERSATILE PRINCE

IMPRESSIVE ADDRESSES LEGION OF EX-SERVICEMEN. IMPORTANT influence. HOUSING IMPROVEMENT.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 0 a.m.) RUGBY, Juno fi,

The Prince of Wales attended two conferences in London today. One was the animal conference of the British Legion of Ex-servicemen and t lie other an international gathering of building societies.

In an address at the former conference, His Royal Highness said: “I do not hesitate to say that the exservicemen of this country have received from successive Governments more benefit and consideration than those in any other country which fought in the Great War. If the Legion is to bo efficient and use its influence to the best advantage, it must adhere to one of the most important sections of its character—it must be entirely non-political. “My message today is that wo must close our ranks still more and kelp our country through the depressed and very difficult limes through which it

is now passing.” The interest the Prince displayed in the .housing problem was reflected in his remarks t 6 the Building Societies’ Congress. He traced its close connection with health, education and the moral welfare of the community. He remarked that, in spite of the great advances made since the War, more homes of the right type were still wanted. Slum Clearances. As building societies they might not be directly concerned in slum clearance. Nevertheless, they could render invaluable assistance by supporting schemes which aimed at the provision for better accommodation for lowerpaid workers. Until adequate alternative accommodation had been provided, the problem of demolishing unsatisfactory and insanitary dwellings would be extremely difficult. His Royal Highness recalled that the building society movement first sprang up on British soil, the first society having been founded in 1781.

Referring to the remarkable progress of house building since the War, the Prince said that abotyt 2,000,000 houses had been erected in Britain since 1919, and to the various forms of State and local government assistance must be added the practical contribution of the building societies. British societies, since 1939, had advanced £020,000,000 to assist in the purchase of houses. He hoped the movement would continue to gain ground throughout the Empire and all the countries represented at the conference.