DREAM VILLAGE PLAN

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 189, 31 May 1939, Page 1

DREAM VILLAGE PLAN

IDEAL HOUSING SCHEME SPONSORED BY VICAR The old-world village of CJaverley, Shropshire, England, population 1153, has for its vicar a man worth £2.500,000.! He is 70-years-oJd Ralph Potts Guy, of whom Ciroekford’s Clerical Directory says; “Net income £3OO and house.” Once earning £3' a week as a provincial journalist, Mr. Guy soon discovered his flair for buying and selling. He was a man with a Midas, touch, who could, not help making money. 'Gradually he began to accumulate a fortune. He entered the church in 1902. But he did not give up his business interests. The people’ of OaverJey are grateful. For this financial wizard who. is their vicar has solved the local unemployment problem. He lias financed schemes for land development and administration. 'There is more work to be done than there are: people lo do it. Has-Big ideas “We can always find work ; n Ciaverioy for those who want it,” said the vicar. Wearing a purple velvet skull cap and a seven-year-old suit-, the Rev Air. Guy, a man of simple tastes but big ideas, told of liis latest project. It is a, vast housing scheme that will cost him £2,500,000. A. hundred houses have already been built, and they are the last word in ideal home construction. •'

Air. Guy plans to bring rural England to town. He deplores the layout of modern housing schemes round London and other big cities, with their narrow strips of so-called garden. Claverlcy’s vicar-liouse-builder has planned his garden city on more generous and far-seeing lines. “1 am building only .six houses to tiie acre,” he said. “The gardens are communal and occupy a. 4£-acre ring round which the houses are being built. Thus thel occupants will enjoy rural amenities as long as the houses stand. They Will Stand. “And believe me,, my houses will standi—they are not- jerry-built. They are selling at not less than £IO9O each. * This is not Air. Guy’s first venture into housing schemes. Hiding bis identity behind the names of the builders lie employs, lie has for years been establishing garden cities near Newcastle and Alanchestor, an<!_ in other parts of the country. He started a bank at the local school. But he does not torget the people of CJaverley. nor their children. He gave the children their ow>> poultry farm, bed-farm, and domestic science department. Claverlev’s future seems safe.