The Derbyshire Hostel
&IL—I notice that Mr. Longland has not replied through your oor- respondence columns. to the questions which I put in my last letter._ Since then I have Welted the fact that, though Whitehall was purchased in October, 1946, it has not, nearly four years later, been yet officially opened. In the meantime, apart from the capital cost of £6,060, a sum of £2,565 has been Spent upon maintenance, including the repair of dry rot. No young person has, as yet, had any benefit whatever during nearly four years except that one or two small parties have camped outside in the grounds at their own expense. Now we are told that a further 0,582 of capital must be spent (which includes £1,000 for furniture).
Meanwhile other outdoor activities for young people of established and proved worth in the County of Derby are being crippled through lack of finance, and grants hitherto available have been withdrawn or cut down on grounds of economy. Young people are being denied the "physical discipline" (the words are Mr. Longland's own) of outdoor
camping with the aid of camping equipment, grants towards which would cost very much less than half the cost of a gymnasium for a small secondary school which is, according to Mr. Longland's letter, to be regarded as a standard of reference when assessing the value of educa-
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