All-Out Aid to the Home Building Industry Ursed

Chicago, March Z?-All-out aid to the home building indus-try was urged upon 4,000 savings, building and loan associations and cooperative banks this week in a fifteen plank platform of policies for I94l sent by their national organization, the United States Savings and Loan League. The policies are the combined work of the League's officers and directors, carrying the signature of Paul Endicott, Pomona, California, president of the League, at the head of the list.

"So far as they soundly can, associations should assist in providing new homes for those workers for whom the hastened industrial recovery is making housing necessary and home ownership possible," said the communication. "'Where abnormal lending hazards are invcilved but where private enterprise can function through emergency governmental assurances, associations are urged to study the advisability of using them.

"Where additional funds can be soundly used for home financing, associations should use Federal Home Loan Bank funds.

"Greater emphasis than has been customary may well be given to the ability and willingness of the borrower to repay the obligation, alongside the test of the actual value of the property. Where circumstances make it necessary for immediate home ownership, associations may at this time go to the top percentage of their lending policies in making home ownership possible for families whose records show that their ability and willingness to repay their obligations can be relied upon.

"Wherever possible loan plans and policies should be made more flexible and serviceable and less rigid and rule bound. Loan plans should be such as to enable the association to adjust to the borrower's needs by allowing variations in rates, variations in the maximum percentage of loan to value of property, and variations in the length of loan term and consequently in the size of the monthly payment.

"Associations through their officers and staffs ought to be identified with all civic and political activities and organizations having to do with housing. This includes city re- habilitation schemes, housing authorities, city planning, zoning and building code amendments. Associations are tied in so closely with the housing picture in their communities that their responsibilities do not cease with the mere granting or rejecting of a loan.

"We are preparing to defend the concept of the family as the basic social unit and along with it parental responsibility for cherishing, training, disciplining and supporting children. Family responsibility cannot be separated from home life and preferably a family-owned home. Clearly, the daily operations of every savings and loan association contribute directly to our national objectives. Associations can make no greater contribution to the national program than by actively promoting home ownership and especially the construction of new homes.

"There is no justification for governmental rent control at anything like present figures. The problem is to provide for much more housing through new construction or rehabilitation of existing buildings. In the present relationship of rentals to construction costs and real estate taxes, rent control would stop new construction by private enterprise and would remove any incentive to home purchase and ownership. Since only the government under such circumstances would be erecting new housing state socialism in real estate will be nearly an accomplished fact.

"Every cooperation is recommended with regard to mortgage payments owed by those men in the armed forces of the nation who, by reason of such service, are unable to make the full payment."

New Redwood Mill

Fred H. Lundblade is building a 40,000 ft. capacity band mill to cut Redwood at Beatrice, Humboldt County. The mill is expected to start operation about June 1.

Happy Event

Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Hall are very happy over the arrival of a son, Bruce Foley Hall, in Oakland, March 11. Mr. Hall is a salesman with Donovan Lumber Co., San Francisco.

CCC Obrerves Eishth Btrthday

San Francisco, March 27.-The Civilian Conservation Corps, acclaimed by many public leaders as the greatest welfare organization in the Federal government, rvill observe its eighth anniversary with camp ceremonies during the latter part of March and the first week of April.

The law authorizing the CCC was signed by president Roosevelt on March 31, 1933. The Executive Order establishing the Corps was issued April 5, and the first camp was established April 17.

In observance of the anniversary, the personnel of all 79 CCC camps in California are planning ,'open house,, celebrations. Announcements of ceremonies at nearby camps will be made locally by camp officials and invitations will be issued to the general public.

In camps where work projects are supervised by the U. S. Forest Service, guests will be shown the enrollee,s field conservation activities as well as the living and dining quarters for each company of 200 men.

Forestry developments initiated and maintained by the CCC in the national forests of the California Region include hundreds of improved public campgrounds, fire breaks, roads, trails and bridges; about nine million trees planted, and several thousand flood control structures installed.

Since 1933, CCC enrollees have been responsible for blister rust control work on 80,000 acres of California sugar pine forests. The Forest Service also reports that enrollees have fought forest fires for nearly one million man-days.

Throughout the United States, 2,500,000 enrollees have served in the Corps. Most of the young men have taken academic and vocational studies to improve their opportunities of finding private employment after discharge.

All junior enrollees are given courses in first aid, physical hygiene and safety.

AVERAGE U. S. F'AMILY SPENDS $1236 YEARLV

Washington, March 15.-The average American family spends $1236 each year in retail purchases, the Census Bureau reports.

Food stores takes $310 of the total, department stores $l26 automobile dealers $166, miscellaneous stores $124, and restaurants and bar rooms $104.

Apparel and shoe stores got ffi, filling stations $83, lumber companies and hardware stores $8O, furniture and radio stores $51 and drug stores $46.