THE SLUM PROBLEM .
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—May I draw attention to an injustice done by Capt. B. S. Townroe to the new Housing Bill in his otherwise excellent criticism, "The Coming attack on ' Slums,' " in last week's issue of the Spectator ?
Capt. Townroe remarks that, "Some, no doubt, would like to see more encouragement given to private enterprise . . ." and adds the comment that, "Little attention is given in the Bill to the value of good management by enlightened landlords." In my view, based on an authoritative inter- pretation of certain Clauses of the Bill, the best' passible provision is made to encourage both private enterprise and the enlightened landlord.
In your issue of November 9th of last year you were good enough to publish an article from me on "Slum Clearance," in which I stressed, as the outcome of my personal experience, the conviction that "if a single scheme of profitable reconditioning and unprofitable slum clearance were carried out within a large residential area, the whole operation could be made profitable." After showing how this would be carried out, I went on to say : "Let large areas of slum property, and property approaching the condition of the slums, be acquired in the open market by private enterprise. . . . It will be found that within each of these areas is much property that can be restored and modernised by recon- ditioning, whilst the smaller proportion which must be demolished can be replaced by -dwellings in harmony with their environment."
The only difficulty in the way of carrying out this scheme was the impossibility of acquiring the areas. This is now made feasible by the provisions of the Bill. Clauses 4 and 6 definitely provide for the handing over to private enterprise of large areas, whether for clearance or improvement or both, which have been acquired; compulsorily or by agreement, by the Government.
I fail to see what better encouragement private enterprise could have than the opportunity to prove its claims; -and display the advantages of enlightened management. It -is sincerely to be hoped that the Local Authorities will be quick to avail themselves of their new powers, and call private enterprise to their aid in the attack on the " slum " problem.
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