Letters to the Editor
THE SLUM PROBLEM
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Townroe replies in your issue of November 10th to certain criticisms of ours on his book, The Slum Problem.
The first, and more important criticism, we made was directed against the unjust emphasis in Mr. Townroe's book on " slum makers." If Mr. Townroe did not intend this emphasis he has been unfortunate, as the book has been a convenient handle for those who do intend it. (Witness Mr. Harold Cox's article in the Sunday Times of Novem- ber 2nd.) We are naturally very much aware of the difficulties of dealing with the small percentage of people who do not want better homes. The difficulties are even greater than Mr. Townroe suggests, because in most cases the problem is one of sheer poverty. But we respectfully point out that we were writing a letter to the Editor of the Spectator protesting against the space and emphasis given in Mr. Townroe's book to a minute percentage of the population, and were not writing an article on the interesting subjects raised by the questionnaire with which he concluded his letter last week.
We do not want to trespass too much on your space with regard to St. Pancras House Improvement Society, Ltd., but we should like to make two points clear. The para- graph in Mr. Townroe's hook dealing with our work was read at our committee meeting, and all the officers (including Mr. Maryon Wilson and Mr. Hubbard) deny having given Mr. Townroe full or up-to-date information, or having been approached by him specifically for the purpose of his book. Much of Mr. Townroe's information, therefore, does not apply to the Society's present work.
Our dividends-3 per cent. on a share capital of £45,755, and interest 21 per cent. on loan stock £15,925— as well as all our building costs, are paid from the profit and loss account. Donations form an entirely separate account, and as our balance sheet made clear, our disburse- ments for propaganda and printing have been comparatively small, leaving a balance of over £7,000 in reserve.—We are,
Sir, &c., IRENE T. BARCLAY, 98 Seymour Street, N.W.1. EVELYN E. PERRY.
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