The comparatively large number of resolutions on housing for the Blackpool conference indicates that this subject is likely to be one of the major ones for discussion this year, Many Labour activists are beginning to wonder what happened to the 1963 NEC pledge to start a publicly owned national construction corporation, given by Arthur Skeffington when he successfully persuaded the AUBTW to remit its resolution on the nationalisation of the building industry.
An interesting document on publicly owned housing component . factories has been produced by the Advanced Studies Group of Hornsey College of Art. The Group concludes that in the London region there will be a short-fall in housing production of at least 40,000 units per annum for at least 20 years, and that this could be met by factory production, which could start at 40,000 per annum and reach 80,000 in 20 to 30 years. This target could be met by establishing four to six large component factories in London, owned and operated by the Greater London Council, An immediate investigation of the possibility of establishing a 10,000 unit factory on the site of Woolwich Arsenal, soon to be closed, is called fore
The report criticises the performance of private enterprise in this field - large firms have entered into licensing agreements for various continental systems, while small firms have spent their time developing no fewer than 300 different systems. It is pointed out that in Moscow 90% of flat production is fully industrialised, and that between 200,000 and 300,000 units are completed annually. In contrast, London falls well short of the Group's estimated minimum targets of 100,000 a year. It is clear that the question of housing component factories is one which could usefully be raised as it also questions the present ownership of the building industry. ANNOUNCEMENT: Nottingham and district readers of The Week will have the opportunity of demonstrating their opposition to Apartheid in“very practical way this week end. The City Labour Party picket of the Test Match with the South African cricket team needs every support it can gete Assemble for leaflet distribution, motrocade, etc at the Trent Boulevard Co-op at 10.30 on Saturday morning. Contact Mrs. Whawell - T.N. Nottm 281833 = for details.