Original scientific paper
Ivo Pilar and His Action to Restore Full Ownership to Houseowners over Their Real Estates (1920-1933)
Mira KOLAR
; sveuč. prof. u m.
Abstract
World War I and the disappearance of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
from the political stage of Central Europe disrupted a great segment of the
then social relations. In the same way that the Agrarian Reform
expropriated landowners from their estates (i.e. they no longer had the
right to freely use their land), houseowners in Croatia were likewise
dispossessed by the enactment of various rules and regulations. Upon his
arrival in Zagreb from Bosnia in 1920, Pilar found countless desperate
houseowners without any means whatsoever. Namely, up to 1914 it was
believed — and rightly so — that building housing blocks was the best
possible investment sure to bring in secure rent. Yet, in the newly
constituted Yugoslavia this was no longer so. Pilar assumed the office of
secretary of the Houseowners’ and Landowners’ Association in Zagreb, as
well as that of secretary of the Houseowners’ and Landowners’ Savings and
Loans Cooperative. Until his death he fought for the restoration of
ownership rights, all the while referring to the legal standards of Europe
that the new state had previously committed itself to meet. Owing to Pilar’s
exceptional competence and professional knowledge, his struggle ended
with great success on the eve of the so-called January 6th Dictatorship. Full
ownership was returned to houseowners. The Agrarian Reform Liquidation
Act from 1931 also restored partial ownership to landowners. Pilar’s
expertly written papers succeeded in changing the negative attitudes on
ownership rights developed under the influence of the Russian Revolution,
and the communists and social democrats in Croatia. He groundedly
proved that “affluence and ownership are not theft” and thus restored faith
in the profitability of capital investments by private entrepreneurs in the
construction of residential buildings. Owing to his efforts, another cycle of
intensive investment in building began. Because of his dedication to legally
protect private ownership of residential buildings Pilar came into grave
conflict with the Croatian communists. Relying on European legal
regulations he secured full ownership to houseowners in Croatia and
forced the authorities to respect the universally accepted standards.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
67587
URI
Publication date:
15.11.2006.
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