(To THE EDITOR. DT THE "SPECIATOR."1
Sen,—I think the principle the Rev. II. 0. Morgan and a previous correspondent approve—that it falls on landowners to provide fit cottages on their estates—is right; it is acknow- ledged by the State in the allowance for expenditore on their cottages not exceeding ES rental per annum. This is welcome, but not too mach. It is not desirable that this policy should be thrown over, especially when tenants are fast purchasing their farms. Loans for improvement of cottages wherever feasible should be granted on liberal terms. The closer the in- terests of cultivator with master the better for farm and country, and I believe the more owners of land the better it will be for agriculture and the well-being of the labourer. As Mr. Morgan says, the conditions in town and country are different, and the housing improvement and building must proceed on different lines. Taxation, as you have often urged, needs revising, and personalty should share with land in its burden.
The Rural District Councils are asked by County Councils to state the number of cottages required, and no question is raised as to improvement of cottages occupied. At last the Council of which I am a member asks if expert aid will be given. I found here a picturesque village, pictured in Putman's Book of the Axe. Not one cottage had a fireplace in bedroom. The village has, with expert help, been reformed, and the occupants and Medical Officer are eatitdied, I Could not now meet a like expenditure, and it seems unjust that a landowner who has done what he could towards remedying the wanta of his oat- lagers should be rated to meet like expenditure in other
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