POST-WAR HOUSING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1943, Page 2

POST-WAR HOUSING

MASS PRODUCTION PLANS IN AUSTRALIA IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF PLASTICS. UTILITY AND LOW COST. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Throughout the United Nations, the solution of the post-war housing problem is occupying increasing attention. Australia expects a mass production of plastics, as well as other prefabricated materials, to make an important contribution. The latest report of the Town Planning Association claims a shortage of 45,000 homes in New South Wales alone, with 30,000 other homes unfit for habitation. The shortage is expected to increase at the rate of 20,000 a year while the war lasts. * Plastic houses, for the post-wai’ production of which in Australian plans have already been made, are stated to

be: Cheaper than brick or wooden houses, less inflammable than the wooden house, weather and termite proof, need no painting and are easy to clean, with all internal walls washable. They can be quickly built. Six men could erect prefabricated sections of one house in a week. A disadvantage is that all the rooms will have to be made to a uniform pattern, since economical mass production will require at least 1,000 rooms to be made from each set of moulds. A plastic house, with two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen and the usual conveniences is expected by experts to cost as low as £2OO, against £7OO to £BOO for the same house, in wood or brick. A plant costing about £lOO,OOO, could turn out a complete plastic house every fifteen minutes. Plastic furniture and crockery could be used for furnishing. Americans who want to own a home can now walk into a department store and order one for after the war. Prefabricated homes range in price up to £B,OOO in New Zealand. A popular model is stated to be a seven-room colonial type of house, complete with heating plant, plumbing features, cooking and refrigerating equipment, furniture, rugs, curtains and drapes. Its estimated cost, complete, is £1,200. Thousands of people have already joined the American “Own Your Own Home” club, through which the houses are ordered.