[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—To the younger generation
Mr. Bernard Shaw, when he tries to be serious, often seems to be longwinded, or else to display a surprising ignorance of the truth. Thus in his observations on Mr. Bossom's proposals to build tenements' over London's railway tracks, Mr. Shaw rashly states that- the Metropolitan Borough Councils " mostly have not exercised at all " their powers to clean up slums.
What are the facts ? Clearly it is impossible to demolish slums unless there is accommodation available to which the existing residents may move. The first step in cleaning up slums is to provide alternative accommodation. The- London County Council has built since the War 37,000 dwellings—enough to house a population almost as large as that of Cardiff. The Metropolitan Boroughs in addition have built over 11,000 dwellings, and their outstanding loans for housing alone amount to over £10,000,000. Is not the Fabian Society advocate of Municipal Trading " gratified that there are now in London at least 180,000 rooms municipally owned ? Is not Mr. Shaw satisfied that he and his fellow-taxpayers and ratepayers should have to contribute at the rate at least of £25 a minute to our national housing estates, and that the payment for these will fall upon our children and grandchildren for another fifty years ?
But Mr. Shaw may be only indulging in the jester's right to exaggerate, and his tilt at Mr. Bossom possibly should not be regarded too gravely. The suggestion to build over railway tracks is rightly receiving the closest examination from the officers of the London County Council. The L.C.C. has decided to continue until 1936 to provide homes at uneconomic rents. Mr. Bossom's proposal may well be the solution of many traffic and housing problems, provided it is part of a replanning scheme for London, and that at the same time a real effort is made to decentralize population
and industry.—I am, Sir, &c., B. S. TOWNROE. 53 Netherhall Gardens, N.W. 3.
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