SIR,—It is probable that I shall not be the only
one to inform you that the society of which Mr. Thomas Prichard is in quest is the Building By-laws Reform Association, of 45 Parliament Street, Westminster, which should be strong enough to induce Government action. For local reasons, I desire to be anonymous in this contribution. It may interest you, however, to know that early in 1903 I wrote inquiring of our District Council if they had altered their by-laws, properly applicable to an urban district, in accordance with the " Model " By-laws of 1902 (not 1903). The clerk answered by asking for a copy of these, which I sent, though one would have thought the Local Government Board would have dis- tributed them to all the Rural District Councils. I waited rather more than a year, and then wrote again, and received an answer that the District Council was awaiting a report by their surveyor. As far as I know, they are now (six months later) still considering the matter. I should like to suggest that the above-named Association would do good work by publishing plans and specifications of a model cottage and a row of cottages, each habitation to contain three bedrooms, and to be built chiefly in wood. A model cottage should be built, I think, of creosoted wood, and might well have fireplaces and range such as are used by backwoodsmen, requiring no brickwork in their con- struction. I think a block of three cottages would be very popular. The proposal for a model cottage or row of cottages is made from a desire to promote cheapness by standardising, and by rivalry between firms specifying for exactly the same building. By marking the woodwork local labour could put together the materials. Non-flammable wood might be an advantage, but one would like to know what effect the acid has on the nails and ironwork employed.—I am, Sir, &c.,
B.
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