THE ROOT OF SOCIAL REFORM.
CTo Tee Maros. or rue " Breersroa."3
Sus,—With the beat will in the world, it is not easy to arrive at "L. W.'s; " attitude to the Housing Question from his letter in your issue of the 15th inst. Logically, I can claim him as a sup- porter, for, though he begins by vigorously contradicting me, he straightway proceeds to contradict himself just as vehemently. Such energy of expression, however, at least indicates a keen interest in a vital and admittedly controversial subject; and the scoring of forensic points cannot tend to a better understanding between those who, already agreeing as to the End, chance merely to champion different Means. So I will ask "L. W." calmly and impartially to read my letter through again as written, and not subconsciously to read into it this or that " heresy " in order that he may enjoy the delights of flogging a dead horse that was really never born.
On reflection he will admit, for instance, that his cry, "Stale aid, not State action,' in fantastically paradoxical. How " aid " is to be forthooming without "action," or how any Government is to be induced to give financial or other support to an enterpriee over which it is to be allowed no sort of control, are problems that "L. W." must surety have overlooked. "Let National Schemes die in favour of the one National Duty—provision of the means." That is "L. W.'s " impressive peroration. Oratorically it has a fine full flavour about it that is undeniably alluring. It is with genuine reluctance that one allows a natural admiration for resounding phrasing to be spoilt in this instance by a suspicion that it is nothing but nonsense—nobly expressed. Ono is irre- sistibly reminded of the keen young patriot who, at the outbreak of war, on being confronted with the recruiting officer and the formalities of attestation, and as forth, broke out impatiently with: "Diana bother about a uniform and a' that—jilt gimme a horse and a goon."—I am, Sir, &e., B.E.F., September 19th. Quoins Wruosiss-Ezus.
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