THE COTTAGE PROBLEM.
[To THE EDITOR OP TRY "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The interesting description and plans of a weather- board cottage given in your last issue will raise thoughts in the minds of many as to the kind of consideration which timber-constructed walls will receive from local authorities, as the average by-laws at present do not approve this form of construction. Doubtless, however, the cottage was erected in a district to which by-laws are not applicable, and the same favourable conditions will be found to exist in many other parts of the country; but there still remain vast rural areas where the building of cottages is controlled by by-laws administered by officials with strict adherence to the letter and small regard for the spirit. It lies within the power of all authorities to modify and revise their by-laws (originally drawn up in 1877) to meet the demands of modern progress in construction and materials. This power has recently been taken advantage of by a few authorities, that of Billericay (Essex) having recently passed a by-law permitting the use of timber framing for cottages. In addition to the permission of timber framing for walls are other important by-laws needing revision. The regulation heights for ground-floor rooms vary from 8ft. to 8ft. bins. A. minimum height of 7ft. bin. or 7ft. 9in. will in most cases be found sufficient. This would leave less cubic capacity for foul air to collect, and with properly arranged windows and vent grating give a perfectly healthy room. By-laws state that half the area of a window is to be capable of opening, but nothing is said to compel the occupier to open it. Again, would it not be beneficial to the health and temper of the cottagers if a regulation demanded that one window in the living-room should be capable of letting in sunlight ? As bedrooms are arranged partly in the roof their height should be governed by their cubic capacity, by giving a fixed ratio between length, width, and height, and not only one of height as at present. In this reduction of heights a considerable saving is effected in brickwork, plastering, &c. Another inconsistency we find in by-laws is that nothing is mentioned as to the site for building a cottage. No one can prevent us building on a disused gravel pit lately filled in with ashes, sardine tins, and any sort of refuse. Fresh legislation in the matter is undoubtedly urgently needed in the form of drastic revision of by-laws by broad-minded authorities having a full know- ledge of the requirements and conditions of modern rural
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