Lord. Robert Cecil regretted that Dr. Addison proposed to stand
by his scheme. " Houses were not in fact being built." In rural district the housing conditions were " really tragic." The labourer was " entirely at the mercy of his employer." Dr. Addison had not faced the central difficulty of the situation, which was financial On the Government figures, he calculated that there would have been a deficit of £40 a year on every cottage built under the scheme. The thing would not work. The taxpayers would have to subsidize the housing of the working classes to an enormous extent And- ultimately, as in the case of every other subsidy, that money would come out of the pockets of the working classes themselves. He advocated cheap construction and a simple scheme of Goveunment loans at a low rate of interest. He doubted whether the £150 bonus was the best measure. In expressing this- doubt Lord Robert Cecil anticipated most subsequent comment.
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