Town Planning. By G. Cadbury, jun. (Longmans and Co. 7s.
6d. net.)—Birmingham is happy in its public spirit, fostered by leading citizens. In Mr. John Nettlefold it has had an excellent leader in matters of housing, and it has been fortunate in having a family of local manufacturers and capitalists which has been able and willing to show by the concrete example of Bournville what can be done in planning a model housing area. We have so often had to connect a serious social evil with the name of this family that it is the greater pleasure to draw attention to Mr. Cadbury's book, for he is justified in writing with pride and authority upon his subject. The great town-planning schemes of Birmingham are described, With photographs, to illustrate the funda- mental principles Of health and amenity, and the convenience and saving which result from their application. Site-planning, road-con- struction, allotments and gardens, open spaces and the legal conditions due to the Hoitsing and Town Planning Act, are all clearly dealt with. The aims are admirable ; the methods are sometimes doubtful. For instance, we do not wish to see adopted the simple method of attaining unanimous administration by municipal ownership of the land. It presents obvious advantages to the hasty reformer, but they do not outweigh the evil that is apparent if we crudely describe the process as speculation in land with other people's money by members of local authorities. Nor, as believers in Free Exchange, can we desire to see large blocks of urban land falling into mortmain after the example of German towns which Mr. Cadbury admires. But we regret that many excellent schemes will be held up by the war.
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