HOUSING. By ,H. Barnes. (E. Bean, Ltd. 25s. net.) HOUSING
PROBLEMS IN WESTERN EUROPE. By E. E. Wood. (New YOrk C.E. P. Dutton and- Co.'. $3.00.)
From a very wide eaiperience and study Mr. Barnes has produced a large book upon the housing 'question in Great Britain from 1801 into the future, with ::appendices and statistics upon every subject connected with housing, from population and marriage, to the variations in the price of a soil-pipe. Reqiers of the Spectator who remember our interest in the Cheap Cottages Exhibition of 1905 will be gratified to find that year held up as the best of a century in the production of cottages. Mr. Barnes- wOtild evidently like to take an individualistic line, but comes to the Conclusion that there is
now hope of private enterprise coping with the problem ; even the imperial and-local authorites will not do all that is needed for a long while, and the more they do, the less private enterprise will do. His facts are clear and his treatment of them is reasonable, but his style is tiresome. As a book of reference the work will be most 'useful. A much pleasanter book to read is Mrs. Wood's record of the efforts, voluntary or public, made to meet the shortage of housing in France, Belgium, Italy, Holland and Great Britain. It is gratifying to find her saying that we have here the highest standard in the world and have done most to realize it. The Minister of Health may yet take some pride in his country. Without being at all profound the book gives a good summary of the housing legislation of each country, and the prospects of every family having a decent home. There are photographs of the work achieved in each country. It is just the book to lead readers here and in America who are not already students of housing to take an interest in its vital problems.
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