BRITAIN'S RURAL PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1614, 4 December 1912, Page 8

BRITAIN'S RURAL PROBLEM.

COMPULSORY HOUSING BILL.

By Telegraph—Press Aesoclation-Corjricbt London, December 2. Lord Salisbury has introduced a Compulsory Rural Housing Bill. It provides that the State shall supply private owners with the necessary capital, and prohibits profit-making. THE NEED FOR REFORM. A very lengthy and extensive experience of rural England (writes Mr. J. L. Green, in the "Fortnightly Review"), has shown us that tho housing of the agricultural labouring population is—except 011 the larger estates, such as those of the Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Rutland, Lady Wantage, Captain Pretyman,M.P;, etc. —generally inferior; whilst,, iu practically every county on small (generally encumbered) agricultural estates, and on properties owned by speculative builders, village traders, and other small owners, much of it is extremely bad; in fact, very disgraceful. Any number of instances could bo given to bear out this latter contention. We do not want to burden this paper by introducing too much detail on the point, with which every student of rural housing may bo presumed to 'bo more or less acquainted. We will, however, for the general reader, give two or throe instances drawn from official sources:—

In ono case a cottage of thrco rooms, and let at Is. 6d. a week, is inhabited by two grown-up people and two boys, the state of repair being "very bad." The two rooms upstairs are each 9ft. by 10ft. in size, and the ono room downstairs is Oft. by 15ft., and in height fift. -lin. Another cottage reported on contains seven inmates, with only two rooms upstairs, ona being very small. In a third case tho cottage, let at Is. Gd. a week, and having two small rooms upstairs and ono small room downstairs, is inhabited by four grown-up people and two children. In a fourth caso the cottage had nine inmates, namely, the husband, wife, the husband's father, and six children, whose ages ranged from sixteen years to nine months, the accommodation hero also being only two-rooms upstairs and ono room downstairs.

Apart from tho overcrowding indicated in theS3 instances, there is also a want of Tepair in the walls and rcofs, an absence of anything in tho way. of p reasonable drainage and water supply, and an equal absence of washhouses and other outdoor offices.

This condition of affairs is, we regret to say, in our experience all too common in rural England. Outbreaks of disease occur. ns a consequence, every now and again, such as typhoid, diphtheria, etc.; and but for tho outdooT life which the rural population leads, much more would be heard of this particular factor in the problem. Is it a matter for' surprise, write.* Mr. Green, that the health of the villago population suffers? And is it not a disgraceful thing, he adds, that so many of our people—the very flower of the race—should be compelled' to live under »uch indcoaat, immoral, and abominj&lajasaslitisDaS