THE RURAL COTTAGE PROBLEM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOIL."] SIIL,—In your last issue 3s. a week is mentioned as the outside rent that an agricultural labourer can afford to pay for his cottage, and I know that the statement is in accordance with the facts. But in the Surrey Advertiser of the same date there is an account of a man with eight children, who, together with two of his children, earns 30s. a week, and his house rent is 9s. He was summoned for not paying district and poor rates to the amount of £4 19s. 8d. This for the time the magistrates excused him. But how is it possible for a man to live, let alone paying taxes, if he has to pay one-half of his own earnings (his wages are but 18s.) for rent ? Is it not time that some legislative bar should be placed on the cruel exactions of some of the owners of cottage property ? I enclose a cutting of the case.—I am, Sir, &c., 'At the Godalming police court on Monday Arthur Elliott, gardener, of Bridge-street, Godalming, was summoned in con- nexion with the non-payment of the general district and poor rates, the amount of the former with costs being M 9s. 8d., and of the latter £2 IN.—Mr. W. Debenham, rate collector, stated that defendant was employed by his father, a market gardener, of Witley, and earned 18s. a week. He had eight children, six of whom were under thirteen years of age. One girl earned 9s. a week, and a boy 3s. a week as errand boy after school hours. He paid 9s. a week for the rent of the house.—Defendant added that he had to lose money when it was wet.—The Mayor (Alderman E. Bridger) suggested that he ought to try to get a better situation elsewhere, and defendant said that he would if he could, but in nine cases out of ten people would not employ a man with encnm- brances.—The Mayor said the magistrates were going to take an exceptional course in defendant's case and were going to relieve him of his responsibility for the payment of the rates on account of his poverty. Defendant would, however, have to do something to meet the liability in future, and the Bench hoped he would be able to improve his position.—Defendant: I will try. If I could see a position at more than 18s. a week I would certainly take it."
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