HOUSES FOR EXPORT.

Shannon News, 28 March 1922, Page 3

HOUSES FOR EXPORT.

/ GERMAN-MADE SOLUTION

ENGLISH AS SHE IS WHIT

There is much, after-war talk of Geimany’s industrial strength and of thei business acumen of these Teutons. It; is no wonder, for their methods are certainly direct. A resident of Shannon has received a circular through the post from a firm with agencies, in London,’Patis and Berlin offering to pack up and sell him nothing less than a “charming bungalow” and iurniture for £350, and expressing the ho'pe that “at the present, housing difficulties” he will take advantage ot the offer. “Furtheijmore for a deposit" of £IOO and the balance spread ovtfr a period of ten years this firm offers to purchase a section lor erection thereon of portable homestead. But let the circular its story in its own quaint way: “Dear Sir—Your name was given ip me by the Building Corporation, Ltd., as being interested or having., a residence built of your own and 1 take the liberty to enquire if you can do with a charming bungalow as-.pet design on back of this letter. “This Bungalow is just, as the picture shown. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 sitting room, kitchen, bath and pantry, internally covered with a., pahlted roof, and all timber worked in groove and feather and well veTihlated besides there is only employed good and dry timber lor the building. The house is oiieed several times and painted from inside and outside, the veranda is mad,e for taking off. All is solidly worked to keep well and passed by the Borough and Town Gonncelers of South End.

“The walls and ceilings are worked out with paintings of good quality the same' as. the furniture.

“The sitting room contains 1 couch with a back support, 1 table, 2 chairs and 2 corner stands, all of hard timber painted with coloured flowers. The bedrooms contains 2 iron beds with lost, 2 washstands with looking glasses and 2 tables all painted white. But since this negotiation being going on I finall settle down in Paris and gave up the idea of residing in England. “As this bungalow is ready packed fur shipment from Hamburg to England 1 do not wish to repack same and therefore wish to dispose of it at a sacrifice. /

“The cost of the house is £3OO. This includes a rolling instaJlion on strong limber as shown in photograph. “The furniture costs £loo—£4oo in all. 1 am prepared to sell the lot for £350, or without furniture £250. “I you wish to secure it, please send me a deposit and I, will immedistely ship the bungalow to the address you may name, or if you wish, you cam also purchase the freehold at Fleming Avenue, Lea-on-Sea Station. I am also prepared to. erect this residence on my ground or on your plot with a deposit of £IOO and the balance as rent for a period of ten years.

“Awaiting tojiear from you.” “P.S.—lf this does not interest you I will esteem it a favour if you will band this letter to your friend.”

The addressee passed this 'to his friend not because it did not interest him, but because it did. No one could fail to' be interested in a charming bungalow internally covered with a pahlted roof, painted from inside arid outside, and oiieed several times. Such feats are not accomplished among our orthodox workmen. A veranda made for taking off is such a convenience too. If an Englishman’s home has been’’his castle in the past there is no reason why part of it; /should not be his umbrella in the future. But the furniture •is unattractive. What man, for instance, coming in tired after retrieving the veranda from someone else who had taken a fancy to it, would throw himself on to a couch with a back support aJI hard timber and painted with coulor--9d flowers, or .even, for that matter, on to an iron bed with rost? H seems that Herr House-builder tied from England and took refuge in Paris and does not want to be seen in Hamburg unpacking his precious houses. Still he may have to do so. The housing shortage is bad in New Zealand but it is not as bad as all that