SHIPS AND HOMES
Sus,—The recent statement by the Minister of War Transport on the post-war problem of a " prodigious surplus " of unusable ships leads one to enquire whether these vessels cannot be adapted to help meet the shortage of houses. Instead of estuaries filled with derelict shipping, cannot our marine and housing designers co-operate to transmute this waste material, as it becomes available, into floating suburbs? Grouped and linked ships, in healthy situations, with access to the shore and to transport, could be planned to provide many communal amenities. Admittedly a good deal of adaptation would be required, and it should be such as to give something much better than mere make-shift accom- modation. But it could be put in hand quickly and progressively, and the total cost—taking the fleets at ship-breaker's prices—might compare not unfavourably with that of building ashore. The idea opens an allur- ing vista which I leave better qualified people to explore.—YOurs faith-
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