5 JUNE 1941, Page 13

A BALD WORLD

SIR,—If as Mr. H. G. Wells appears to think, we are in danger of being faced, within measurable time, by a " bald world," owing to the enormous demands made on forests to supply the world with timber, two things seem obvious: (t) that it is our bounden duty to secure a greatly increased amount of re-afforestation, and not in soft-wood trees alone, but in oaks and other hard-woods ; (2) that, in the regional house-planning that will occupy our energies for years, after war is over, we should seriously consider the desirability of the complete "non-timber house." Given good architects, these houses of the future ought to be artistic in design as well as a saving in wood- stuffs. The matter only needs being ventilated in the Press for it to be attended to and, at the right time, acted upon. Perhaps the idea is even now being talked about. If so, it is all to the good, for the timber shortage is certain to become acute before long.—Faithfully