THE MANAGEMENT OF COTTAGE PROPERTY. [To MI EDITOR Or 12111
SPLCIIIT0112.]
Sui,—As you know, the Government Is committed to the pro- vision of a large number of cottages in urban and rural areas, and owing to the present cost of building a large portion of the coat of these cottages will have to bo borne by the Government. As far as I know, the question of the management of this property, for which the Government will be largely responsible, has not been considered. The management of cottage property in the past has not (with very few exceptions) been recognized as a skilled profession, with the result that arrears of rent, bad debts, and deterioration of property have been unduly large. Those who have studied the question know how quickly the best planned and built cottage estates can be reduced to little better than slum property if the management is placed in untrained hands. It seems to me that a unique opportunity is given to the Government at the present time to establish centres where estate managers can be trained in their profession. For there is a considerable amount of cottage property in different centres which is Government-owned and managed by the Ministry of Munitions—e.g., at Barrow, Coventry, Dudley, Sheffield, de. At these places schools might be established where the necessary training, both practical and theoretical, could be given. It may be argued that the management of cottage property is not a profession of its own, and that any one with ordinary business knowledge could undertake it. The answer is that this has not proved to be the case in the past, and that the number of people who have a knowledge of (1) building and sanitation (sufficient to supervise repairs); (2) account-keeping; (9) the various Acta dealing with rates and taxes, regulating the amounts charged and the limits of assessment; (4) the laws relating to weekly tenancies; (5) the Public Health Acts, &e.; and who are able to take a sound view of property management, are not easily found. The Government Department which should undertake this work is obviously the Local Government Board- The new President, whose first oare will be the pro. vision of the cottages referred to, will it is to be hoped turn his
attention to the management problem.—I am, Sir, Ac., X. [We endorses every word of our correspondent, who writee Of what he knows in regard to Cottage Management. Skilled management was Miss ()Maria Hill's secret of eaccess, and its importance can hardly be exaggerated. V.A.D. nurses anxious to take up new work of national importance could not do
better than train for this public duty. They know one half of the job already in knowing the elements of nursing, and also how to deal with men and complaints. We admit that the legal requirements look like the subjects of "the Bar Exam.," but V.A.D.'e must not be put off by that. Women, having natur- ally tidy and logical minds—a fact, though not generally admitted—take very easily to law.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
