To the Editor of the "Norra-Carxa Datty News."
Sir,—Some weeks ago correspondents drew attention in your paper to the wooden houses constructed in parts in British Columbia, and also, I believe, in Norway' and which, being in'standardized parts, could be sent to Shanghai and erected here, the complete cost, transportation included, being much less than houses built here.
People who could not. purchase such houses outright, would eagerly agree to buy on the instalment plan and there would undoubtedly arise a brisk demand. It has been urged against these houses that there is no Iand on which to build them, but if space is found on which to build native constructions, the same space can be utilized for better houses, Living here so many years as T have done (I write as an old Shanghai resident) I have reckoned that the amount of money have put into other people's property in rent, repairs and interior decoration would have paid for at least half-a-dozen of the Vancouver bungalows.
I notice that there is already established here an enterprising Norwegian firm who offers supply these wooden houses, but it has not given particulars as to the conditions under which it would put them up. The Shanghai public would be glad to know the details. Of course profiteering must be guarded against, as there is already too much of that sort of thing here, but the Settlement is extending so rapidly that it would be an advantage for people to buy land even at a high price on which to place these houses, or the land could be leased.
Naturally all vested interests will be dead - against this innovation, and Chinese contractors will be violently opposed. But while houses continue to be erected and repairs executed in their present unworkmanlike and shoddy fashion, with inadequate material and unscientific methods their protests need not be heeded,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.