21 SEPTEMBER 1934, Page 3

There is a tendency in this country to treat slum-

clearance, town-planning and the preservation of the countryside as three subjects instead of one. The truth is that we shall only save the country by making the towns fit to live in—and until this has been done the salvation of particular " beauty-spots," and even the passing of restrictive legislation, can only be regarded as palliatives. Here again the " New Homes for Old " exhibition is to be commended. Excellent aerial photographs show clearly the main principles of good town-planning- chiefly, it must be admitted, by means of " awful exam- ples," for lack of good ones. And since in slum-clearance lack of ground-space usually necessitates the tenement, we learn the importance of providing those communal advantages which this type offers and whose absence frequently causes a reversion to slum conditions. We see, too, various proofs of the statement that " town-planning pays." The bill will be presented to us annually for the next forty years : it could, and should, be made to pay itself.

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