[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.1 SIR,—I should be
glad if you would allow me space for a few words on the subject of cheap cottages, which is one of the most difficult questions that exist for landowners, and of the first importance for the country. Mr. Clough in the Spectator
of August 27th asserts that cottages can be built in blocks to return 4 per cent, for a cost of a little over 2100 apiece. If he means in blocks of ten or twelve, this may possibly be done ; but the real difficulty arises when it comes to providing single or double cottages for outlying farms. Being confronted with this question last year, I made careful inquiries in many directions from agents, landowners, and the Rural Housing Association. I came to the conclusion that it was impossible
to build single cottages under £200 to meet all requirements, or double ones at less than 2350, the land being given free, and that the return is at the most 2i per cent. Few land- owners would hesitate to build if they got 4 per cent. ; but as the subjoined extract shows, cottages in a cheap material, which may be quite sanitary, are made impossible by some local bye-law, I believe very many. The difficulty as to sanita- tion does not depend on bye-laws, but on the fact that the sanitary inspector is the nominee of the District Council,— i.e., of (in many instances) the owners of the cottages. It is too often impossible for him to do his duty and retain his office. If the sanitary laws were strictly enforced, in many instances the tenants would not leave. But the fundamental
difficulty of the situation is that good cottage property does not pay, and if Mr. Clough can really show us that it can be made to pay he will confer an enormous benefit on the rural
"PHILANTHROPY THAT PAILED.—An attempt by Mr. W. S. Blunt, Lord of the Manor of Worth, to build cottages at Three Bridges of an improved type, has brought him in conflict with the law. Mr. 'Blunt had built a cottage of timber and corrugated iron, believing that it would solve the problem of the housing of the working classes by providing a building that was cheap, roomy, and, it was contended, dry and healthy under all conditions. The local bye-laws, however, require that all cottages should be of brick or stone, and so Mr. Blunt was summoned on Monday before the Magistrates. The Bench, saying that they gave Mr. Blunt credit for every good motive, fined him a continuing penalty of 2s. a day, coming to some £10 in all."
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