TOWN PLANNING AND HOUSING

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16855, 8 June 1920, Page 7

TOWN PLANNING AND HOUSING

4 MB HURST SEAGER'S MOTION. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Router's Telegrams.) LONDON, June 5. At tho Housing Congress, Mr S. Hurst Seager, of Christchureh, who is representing New Zealand, moved a motion in favour of the provision of properly • equipped children's playgrounds within a quarter of a mifo of every home, and properly organised shopping centres within easy distance of all residential places. This was defeated by 78 votes to 70. AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. LONDON, June 5. The attempt to copo with the 6erious housing problem has resulted in an interesting experiment in London and Manchester in tho application of tho guild system to Socialism, which is believed to be destined to revolutionise industrial control. The trade union ticket- is a certificate of membership of tho guild, which is designed to mobilise the necessary labour and eventually to ■undertake all branches of building, supplying skilled architects and engineers, and carrying on all necessary and desirable public and private •work. The labour of a guildman wiU no longer be a marketable commodity, but the guildman will be on the strength for life. It is anticipated that the guild will be able to increase the purchasing power of its members' pay bv scientific organisation of production. Discussions liavo been proceeding with the Ministry of Health with reference to tho percentage of cost allowable for management. This now has been settled on the basis of 6 per cent, in addition to remuneration of £4(> per house, payable by the local authority.