22 MARCH 1902, Page 16

THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY. [To mg EDITOR OF

THE "SPECTATOR J.

SIR,—All 'reasonable people will agree with your corre. spondent " A. H. C." in the Spectator of March 8th, but he adds an unfortunate " P.S." to his letter. Does he seriously believe that unreasonable, or any other, by-laws " do a lot of good—to the surveyor " ? How can they ? The surveyor to a local authority has a fixed salary, for which be has, among other duties, to see that by-laws which he does not make are

properly carried out. To his work and responsibilities by- laws add much; they cannot add anything to his remunera- tion. Surveyors to local authorities are a class of professional men whose standing and abilities may be gauged by the fact that many (perhaps most) of them are members of the Insti- tution of Civil Engineers. By his ill-considered Parthian shot at them " A. H. C." does nothing but harm—to the cause.—I am, Sir, &c.,

EDITOR "THE SURVEYOR AND MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ENGINEER."

[We agree with our correspondent's vindication of a capable body of public servants.—ED. Spectator.]