[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—The Westminster City Council,
in a Report which pur- ports being a reply to the " Survey on Housing Conditions in the Victoria Ward. Westminster," issued by the Westniinster .
Survey Group, and to your criticism of the Councils inactivity on the matter of housing, has sought to take refuge in, among other things, an attack on the building trades.
This is the usual resort of an inept and reactionary local authority, and as such, would not greatly disturb us who are workers in the industry, but in your article dealing with the question in this week's issue (page 645: " Much of what the Joint Report says about the difficulties created by the building trade may be true ") you seem to accept it as a serious factor in the case.
The Spectator has a well-deserved reputation among all classes for its breadth of outlook and fairness in controversy, and therefore I would regret that weight should be given in its columns to any such statement ; hence my reason for troubling you on the matter. With regard to the allegation that the building trades (I am, of course, speaking only for the operatives) are creating difficulties in the matter of housing progress in all its phases, this has only to be impartially examined to be found absolutely incorrect. On the contrary, the operatives, through their organizations and in conjunction with the -employers in the industry, have done, and are doing, everything possible to assist in the provision of decent homes for the people, of whom we are a part. From 1924, when the industry was called into consultation by the Government, every effort has been made to ensure that nothing shall stand in .the way of this object Thousands of additional appren- tices and adults have been brought in and are being trained to meet the present need, even although we recognize the danger which is already apparent, that in the near future we may have unemployment to -as great an extent as in past times. The ex-Minister of Health and the present Minister have acknow- ,ledged the assistance received from the industry. Numerous :local authorities are working in co-operation with Com- mittees of the Industry (known as " Local Building Industry Committees ") and have paid unsolicited testimony to the aid rendered them in their attempts to deal with this pressing problem.. The Spectator itself pays tribute in the current issue (page 642). You write : " In spite of the presence of this peculiar incentive [hurrying to get the subsidy] one cannot help feeling .proud of what can be done by a much abused industry when it really works. all out. The proof is plain enough that there are no housing problems, of what- ever sort, in this country which cannot be successfully tackled." The operatives have not sought, to their own advantage, to exploit the need of their fellows. In the last six years, reduc- tions in wages amounting to' as much as 30 per cent. have been suffered, by the building workers, and they have during the last two or three years, when it might have been possible to obtain higher rates, refrained from doing so.
The popular idea as to the wages paid in our industry is somewhat hazy. It is usually thought that a regular wage of is. 8d. an hour (which, by the way, is an "A" grade rate and the highest with the exception of London and Liverpool) for forty-four or forty-six hours a week, is paid irrespective of circumstances, for fifty-two weeks in a year. The outlook for the building worker is, however, not so rosy. Taking all the 'circumstances into consideration, such as the nature of the work, holidays, sickness, &c. (no payment is made to a worker -absent on account of illness, holidays, or for any other reason), and, finally, having regard to climatic conditions, such as have been prevalent this .year, under which men, through no fault of their own, are " stood off," then the total wage for the year is a very meagre one indeed. Again, some workers have valuable kits of tools to provide and replace at their own cost, so that altogether the actual earnings of the building worker are not popularly known.
Let me assure you and your readers that the operatives in the building industry are willing and anxious to join with all men and women of goodwill in the great endeavour to meet the needs of the community in this vital enterprise. Some of us would like to see realized the ideal of Industry organized for Public Service. In regard to housing, a step has been made in that direction, and our services-are at the disposal of the Westminster City Council or of any other authority when they realize their clear duty in this connexion.—I am, Sir, &c.,
THOS. BARRON.
Atqtiort;irFederation of Ruilding Trades Operatives, Federal House, Cedars Road.-London, S.W. 4.
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