STATE HOUSING.
[To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sts.—Mr. E. L. Oliver states with clearness (,Cperta tor, January 19th) some of the difficulties of State housing, and asks how will the Government solve the difficulty it is pledged to tackle. I am not competent to suggest any solution of these difficulties, but what I do wish to urge is that, in spite of grave dangers of State housing, the greater danger lies in any tendency to evade Government pledges. Nothing has aroused greater interest in the country districts than the question of cottages. The Prime Minister has proclaimed that rural England is in need of cottages and that the State will build them. At the General Election this was echoed in nearly every election address, and innumerable promises have been made by Ministers that we cannot return to the old conditions. Therefore, even if, for the time being, it may be necessary to assume frankly that State housing can only be done at the cost of considerable subsidies, with all its attendant economic drawbacks, the needs of the villages must be boldly faced. In the meantime it is to he hoped that some solution of the graver difficulties may be forth- coming, and that schemes may be devised to ensure that the benefits fall to the thrifty and deserving, perhaps through the co-operation of Friendly and Public Utility Societies. I fear that your other correspondent's suggestion of Government help for landowners to build cottages would rouse jealous suspicion from Labour, and become the subject of bitter controversy. The position is ono that in normal times would appear to be insurmountable. But, in sober truth, it must be realized that this first period of reconstruction is critical. Even if the cost at first be almost on the scale of times cif war, it should be regarded as expenditure on productive employment and for the reconstitution of social and industrial life. If people of influ- ence do not realize this, the alternative may prove more costly in the end. The most crying need in towns and villages is industrial peace, even if the peace can only be attained by the Government losing money on State housing.-1 am, Sir. Ac.,
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