GLUT OF MANSIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26437, 16 April 1947, Page 5

GLUT OF MANSIONS

HOUSING ANOMALY IN BRITAIN Special Correspondent Rec. 7.30 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 15. One of the anomalies of life in pres-ent-day Britain is that, although there is a severe housing shortage, there is a glut of mansions. Under present conditions, it is impossible for any but the wealthiest families to keep up large country and town houses, and as a result an increasing number of the stately homes of England are being transferred to the National Trust, cut up into fiats or apartments, or sold as offices. Following the method adopted during the war, when many large firms found it convenient to decentralise their activities and take premises out of London and other large cities, a number of firms are now discussing leases or purchase of country mansion' with the idea of finding office accom modation away from the cities. I: addition to Himley Hall, the Nation,: Coal Board recently acquired seve other large country properties for df velopment as regional headquarters