[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Housing is rig:Ttly made
an integral part of the pro- gramme of whatever body of legislators happen to be in power, and the efforts ef our new Government in this connexion will naturally. be followed with the closest interest by their phalanx of supporters (not to mention their opponents). It is. indeed, to be hoped that Parliament will now seize the opportunity of helping to create an " Al race" by taking up this matter and sifting it thoroughly, to the untold benefit of the masses. Yet may I be permitted to ask, in all sincerity, what is the good of providing even excellent houses with plenty of cubic space for breathing purposes if the air to be breathed by our children remains as polluted as it is to-day ? In order to obtain the greatest benefit from more air, it is evident that the air must be more pure. It is common know- ledge that sunlight produces a chemically invigorating action upon the blood of every individual, which is essential to the maintenance of normal health. Without sunlight our children grow pale and lethargic, and develop incurable diseases.
The official report, just published by the Fuel Research Board, into the carbonizing of coal by the low-temperature process, indicates the direct route to a sunnier, and therefore healthier, London. The most careful expert investigation has proved that it is possible, by this process, to produce close on 14 cwt. of coalite from every ton of coal treated. Coalite has been found by these independent investigators to behave like coal in every way save that it is quite smokeless, and this Government report certainly does appear to suggest at last a solution to the problem of how to abolish the baneful nuisance of smoky cities.—I am, Sir, &c., 78 Portland Place, W.1.
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