Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : The last week of
Parliament before Christmas has been remarkable for a most impressive attack upon the slums by Sir Austen Chamberlain. His text was that the Government ought to have included subsidized recon- ditioning among their housing proposals, and his description of the pestilent hovels of the Birmingham slums reached impressive, emotional heights. Sir Austen has ever had more than a trace of Liberalism ; he has the prestige of a long and impeccable record of public service and of the unselfish withdrawal of his candidature for office in order to make room for younger men. The spirit of Mr. Gladstone, had it been present, might well have echoed the comment made by Mr. Gladstone in the flesh on the maiden speech of young Mr. Austen Chamberlain—" it was a speech that must have brought pride and joy to a father's heart."
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