OCTAVIA HILL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Your statement that " were funds available to demolish all the slums of Great Britain and manage them on Octavia Hill lines, the great majority of the rehoused population would not relapse " is borne out by the experience of the remarkable rehousing work now in progress at Amsterdam.
Before the War a determined effort had been initiated, with State and municipal assistance, to eradicate slums, especially cellar dwellings.. A town-planning scheme cover- ing many acres was arranged on the outskirts of the city.. The War checked progress and greatly added to the cost of building. The cost rose from 100 per cent. in 1914 to 300 per cent. in 1918, 350 per cent. in 1919. Since then it has fallen, but still remains 70 per cent. ,higher than in 1914.
In spite of all difficulties, by January 1st, 1928, no less than 28,648 dwellings had been built and were in occupation, and a further 3,424 dwellings were planned and in course of erection.
The Octavia Hill system has been adopted over the whole planned extension of the city. It is carried out by fifteen inspectors, of' which fourteen are women, with six assistants. It is of interest to Londoners to know that many Toynbee houses have been erected, and that there are several children's playgrounds.
An official report dated May, 1928, states that special attention is given by the Octavia Hill inspectors to the cases of families who have been removed from condemned houses and cellar dwellings. It states that good results have already been achieved, but adds that " final results can only be achieved after some years of painstaking effort."
63 St. James's Street, S.W. 1.
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