Workers' Homes Rise in Spam

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 7 June 1938, Page 3

Workers' Homes Rise in Spam

JEREZ.—Progress is being made in improving the housing situation in Southern Spain for low-waged workers, in towns like Seville, Jerez and Huelva working man were obliged to content tliemseives with one room in an old insanitary building for the entire living quarters of themselves and their families. The rents for such rooms varied between 30 and 50 pesetas a month with wages about four pesetas a day. About a year ago wealthy landowners and industrialists were upproached by the Nationalist Government lor co-operation. Jerez provides au example of the type of plan proposed. The town bougnt a large tract of suitably situated land, made the necessary roads, pavements, and drainage and divided, it into lots costing about C2O. set, the difi rent purchasers constructing according to taeir means and tastes. The oest collages contain five rooms, bathroom and lavatory, wash house and terraced roof and a little walled-in front garden, i’hey cost about 10,(100 pesetas to build, which, with the land, is to-day aoout £220. I’hc rent is 50 pesetas per month or approximately xl. The smaller houses have four or five rooms, tiled roof and no bathroom, the wash house being intended for bathing purposes as well as laundry. These let at 30 pesetas (twelve shillings} and return the owners five .per cent as de the larger ones. Because there is to-day practically no unemployment there is no delay in finding tenants. The results are said to be satisfactory that another twelve mouths will probably see the present scheme, which acounts for some 200-odd : houses in Jerez alone, completely fulfilled. The little girl handed a fry in-pa u to the pawnbroker and said, “Al other wants fourpencc on this.” The pawnbroker dropped the pan with a ydil. “The blessed thing’s hot,” he yelled. “Yes,” said the girl, “mother’s just friend the sausages, and she wants fourpence for the beer.” “I read the other day that it takes only- the smallest fratcion of a second to wink your eye.” “Yes, but it takes the greatest part of a day to explain it to your wife.” “Ever seen one of those machines that can tell when a fellow’s lying?” “Seen one? I married one.”