ABOLISHING SLUMS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 7

ABOLISHING SLUMS

Provisions in New British Bill DRASTIC PROPOSALS (British Official Wireless.) (Received January IS, 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, January 17. Drastic proposals for the elimination of overcrowding in town and country, and the re-development of working class, residential areas in central positions in the great cities, are contained in the Government’s new housing Bill. Its provisions include the introduction of a national standard of housing accommodation enforceable by the courts at the instance of local authorities; surveys by local authorities to estimate the extent of crowding in excess of the standard, which is to be followed by -building and re-development schemes to make good the deficit of houses; a special subsidy to encourage the building of multi-storied blocks of flats for “on the site” rehousing: facilities for public utility corporations in carrying out parts of approved schemes delegated to them by local authorities; and the creation of a central housing advisory committee to give advice, ’particularly in the employment by local authorities of management commissioners in the administration o’ publiclyowned housing estates. The measure, a Press Association cable states, seeks without delay to provide accommodation without undue disturbance of large populations at rents within the scope of wage-earners. Tlie Bill legally defines overcrowding, with a penalty of £5 plus £3 each day overcrowding continues

Big subsidies envisaged include at least £6 yearly per flat for 40 years from the State, plus £3 from I he- local authority.