News of the Week The Shim Clearance Bill . T HE
Government have no more important • measure in domestie politics than theft: Bill for slum clearance, the text- of which was issued on Monday night; Mr. Arthur Greenwood, the Minister of Health, gives evidence of original and bold thinking,, and the proposals are the most interesting we have read' for • a-long .time, This,is not to say that the Bill is not open to certain objectioni; some of . which may pro's e serious: ` The finance is rather vague there is little clue to the total expenditure. contemplated—and in one, ease, where it is definite, it seems to be unjust. Wc.do not plead for any Mercy towards those owners who have-wilfully neglected their property, but it does Seem unjust that an owner who cannot be blamed with negligence, but whose property has to be swept away as part of a general clearance, should get no more than n.site-Isalue compensation. It is true that he may receive an .eleemosynark grant, but we had ....... .
sypposed_that the time was past when charity could be offieially_ptit -forward as a -substitute for justice. • Many owners who meant well have been absolutely thwarted by-the Rent Restriction Act, They could-not- turn out theft tenants; yet could undertake no reconditioning while the- house§ were inhabited.
