28 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 22

POINTS FROM LETTERS

COTTAGES IN THE COTSWOLDS.

I should like to draw the attention of your readers to an experiment which seems well worth while imitating. Sir Stafford Cripps, K.C., who lives in the beautiful village of Filkins in the Cotswolds, was informed that the Rural District Council proposed erecting in the village four cottages ; and knowing by bitter experience what these might well be like, he asked for and obtained the contract to build the cottages at the same price as the tender for erecting theni in the usual district council style. Mr. Morley Horder was the architect and the result is beautiful ; the cottages are built in the best traditional Cotswold manner, with lovely stone roofs. It is suggested that this might be expensive, but I understand it costs little more, and I feel that Rural District Councils building on a large scale to the same specifications and with their units grouped to suit conditions of their sites' items such as doors, windows, &c., would be beneficially affected by reason of the larger standardization.—EVELYN GRAHAM MURRAY, 17 Wilton Street, Grosvenor Place, S.W. 1.

THE BARKING DEER.

On page 181 of your issue of February 7th, Sir W. Beach Thomas seems, somewhat half-heartedly, it is true, to advocate the naturalization of the Barking Deer, and says it is easily kept within bounds. It is to be hoped he will gain no converts to letting loose this horrible little pest. If he wants a candid opinion of this beast, let him ask gardeners and allotment holders in the neighbourhood of Woburn, They feed im- partially on any garden stuff, vegetables or flowers. They are night feeders and will find their way through any little gap or, if necessary, will jump it, By day they retire to the woods and are hardly ever seen, so cannot be said to add to the amenities of the countryside, Much better add them to the vermin list and exterminate them with the grey squirrel and the little owl.—MUNTJACK,

THE RUPERT BROOKE MEMORIAL.

There is a slight error in the Travel Section of your issue of February 21st. The Cruise to Skyros for the unveiling of the Rupert Brooke Memorial was not organized by the English Committee of the P.E.N. Club, but by the International Rupert Brooke Memorial Conunittee, Full particulars can be obtained from the Greek Travel Agency, 17 Grand Arcade, Trafalgar Square, W.C. 1—HERM0N OuLD, Hon. Sec. Rupert Brooke Memorial Committee.