Page 1, 27th August 1948

27th August 1948

Page 1

Page 1, 27th August 1948 — Australian Y.C.W. Start Housing Co-operatives
Close

Report an error

Noticed an error on this page?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it.

Tags

Locations: Melbourne, London

Share


Related articles

Rebirth Of Christian Workers

Page 6 from 3rd April 1987

Homes (for A Fortnight) Muddled Thinkers Wan Ted:

Page 1 from 13th September 1957

Sixty Years On, There's Still A Role For The Young...

Page 5 from 31st October 1997

Guilds And

Page 7 from 16th August 1940

New Threats To Christians In South Africa

Page 2 from 12th October 1979

Australian Y.C.W. Start Housing Co-operatives

By GERRY SHERRY
The initiative and virility of the Young Christian Workers' Movement in Australia is to be seen in the recent formation of co-operative housing societies which enable young workers to build new homes as an aid to their future happiness and security in marriage.
Frank McCann, National Secretary of the Australian Y.C.W., who represented his country at the recent International Youth Conference held in London, spoke enthusiastically of the scheme for building new houses when I saw him last week.
He said that in the State of Victoria, through a Governmentsponsored plan, anyone over the age of 18 years can obtain ready housing money on generous terms from a co-operative housing society in the district in which the house is to be erected.
These societies, which must be approved by the Government, can obtain from 80 per cent. to 90 per cent. of the money required through a bank and in all cases the Government acts as the guarantor.
LOANS
If it is desired, young workers may pay as they plan." This means that even when it is not their intention to start building a house immediately, it is still an advantage to obtain membership in the Cooperative. The member will thus be enabled to make an interest-hearbig reduction on the amount to be borrowed eventually.
Loans are repayable at the very low rate of 3 per cent. Although still in its infancy the Australian Y.C.W. has already formed ten cooperative housing societies in all, with a membership of 1,600 and a total share-holding of nearly a million and a quarter pounds. Sixtythree homes have already been completed and a further 140 are in the process of being erected. "Of course." said Frank, this is merely one of the movement's ser vices. We also have employment bureaux, professional guidance centres, two accommodation hostels, and a savings scheme.
STARTED IN 1940
"The movement started." he went on, " in Australia in 1940, and in 1943 the National Episcopal Committee of Catholic Action granted the Y.C.W. a mandate for young Catholic male workers. I was appointed first full-time organiser. We now have a national staff of 22, with one full-time chaplain, and headquarters centred in Melbourne.
" We arc established in 19 dioceses, have 200 parochial groups with a membership of nearly 10,000 of which 1,400 are leaders in training.
" The Australian hierarchy has given us every support and special mention must be made of Dr. D. Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne, to whom the movement is indebted for his encouragement since thc beginAniigln iy"pes. including factory and black-coated workers are attracted to the movement.
You see," he said, " with material conditions in factories and other workplaces in the industrial cities being of a reasonably high standard there is very little distinction made between those who wear overalls and those who wear office dress."
Frank also mentioned that whilst over -here he is discussing with the leaders of the English Y.C.W. a




blog comments powered by Disqus