Herewith as prolised the detaibof the Housing Campaign which is being launched, The organisers have issued the following?
"The only body which can tackle the housing problem is the Labour Movement. We plan to launch a massive campaign to make sure that this problem ic faced Muarely, We should like prominent men from Labour Groups from all over the country and trade unionists to add their signatures to the statement below, Please let us know as soon as possible if you are willing to support our campaign. : i
The present Government's housing policy and programme entirely fails to face up to the realitiea of the housing problem in Britain, The building and letting of houses for profit will never provide homes adequate for the needs of the pacple; we bolisy ahousing should be provided BS a social service, We deplore the Government's policy which forces up rents for tenants and mortgage rates for owmer=occupiers, and welcome the Labour Party's commitment to cheap housing loansfor local authorities and owner occupiers; the scrapping of the Rent Acts compulsion of landlords to install baths and inside w.c.s* 3 the public tying of milding lend; and the resultant stabilising of council rents and the ending of evictions.
In addition we believe that the provision of_adequate housing should be the first priority of a Labour Government and we thorefore urge immediate adoption of the following crash programme:
1) -A minimum house building target of 500,000 per anmm,
2) Municipaliasation of all housing other than owner occupiers',
3)Greatly increased uso of direct labour as a first step towards
publie ownership of the miilding industry.
4) Setting up of national facilities for the design and manufacture
of building components in areas of unemployment, and using redundant
factories, shipyards and railway workshops.
We call upon tho Labour Party, both nationally through the N.&.C. and lecally, Trades Unions, Trades Councils, Co-¢psrative organisations, Tenants' Associations, Local Authorities and the whole population of Britain to join a massive campaign.
These demands must be pressed upon the Conservative Government by means of demonstrations, a mass petition organised throughout the country, deputations te all ministers involved, and culminating in a merch through London and amass lobby of Parliament." Frank Allaun,M.F,. Len Youle, uric Heffer, Ben Parkin,li,P. PG. to Regional Organisors: Caa you ploase got any prominent members of housing committees etc, in your areas(particularly in major cities) to endorse this statement, This is ureat,. Ed. note: All correspondance should go to "Housing Campaign",
21, Drayton Gdnee,
LONDON, oe W 10,
POSTSCRIPT: Since the nbove éircular was drafted additional sponsors have sent their names in. Many more are expected as only a few days have elapsed since the original appeal went out. The new sponsors include; Syd. Bristow, Ken Coates, vice-chairman Nottingham City Labour Party; Bill pow,"2¢Tthentery candidate South Paddington; Judith Hart, 1.P.3; @llis Hillman, L.C.C.; Lona Jeger, Hugh Jenkins, and Renee Short.