21 FEBRUARY 1903, Page 26

Housing by Voluntary Enterprise. By James Parsons. (P. S. King

and Son. 2s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Parsons is a strong advocate of private as against State and municipal enterprise in the matter of housing the poor. He tells the story of the "East-End Dwellings Company," an association which has paid 5 per cent. steadily on its capital. The real difficulty—this Mr.' Parsons does not profess to touch—is in the rural housing. That must be done at a loss until the conditions of rural life are radically changed. But the question is not so urgent as in towns. As a whole, the rural labourer is better housed than the towns- man is or ever can be.