LADY RHONDDA'S COTTAGES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 229, 21 June 1919, Page 2

LADY RHONDDA'S COTTAGES

HOUSING SCHEME ON HER WELSH ESTATE. One of tho most remarkable things about the Viscountess.ltliondda (writes a special correspondent of .'the "Daily News"), is her 'ersatility. She is alive to- all tho social of tho age, and she approaches them in the spirit of the reformer. , Her most recent interest is housing,- and it was in connec-„ tion .with tho seiiemo she is introducing on her Monmouthshire estate that I saw her the other day. .."The shortage of housing accommodation for the actual workers on tho land has been as acutely felt in my district as anywhere else," said Lady Rhondda, "and it is on that account—simply .because it is a/ matter of practical and urgont necessity—that I am proposing to building a few cottages."

With a smilo, Lady Rhondda disclaimed tho report, widely circulated; that slie hersejf ic preparing' the plans aiid do-' signs for tno noiismg scheme', • "I am not doing'that," she said, "Mr. H. Avray .Tipping, the well-known architectural' authority, is preparing designs, arid' I am going to choose from thein. It is true, however, that, like-most other people, I. have views as to tho typo of. house that should bo eiectcd. 1 have always been very much interested in the question' of hous'e-plawiing, both from tho point of view of health, comfort, and appearunco—the latter X think most important—and I hops to carry my views, into effect. Tho houses aro to -be pleasant to look upon. They will con-, tain parlour, - living room, scullery, at least three bedrooms, and a bathroom. "Everyone wants a bath in theso days, and they want it not as some people allege, to storo coal in, but tu put it to its proper uso. They want a parlour, in addition to a living room', aud they want at least three bedrooms. My houses will havo all these things. There is no foundation lor. suggesting that the new houses fo bo erected will develop into pig-styes. It is a cliargo "against tho wurking woman which is absolutely unjustiliod.

U'fieri ono thinks of her struggles withinconvenient houses, insanitary arrangements, lack of the essential constant hot water supply, and coping with a large family, one wonders at.her patience, her forbearance, i-.nd her success. How many oi us could possibly culure her regular uaj-'s labour under such conditions V ■ I'ijially, Viscountels Rhon'dda drew attention to the groat nAd of providing rural housing as an assiatanco...to • tho progress of agriculture. "There is," sue said, "a serious shortage of labour iu tho neighbourhood of, and on, my. estate, simply because they cannot finu accommodation for tho workers. Farmers aro faced with this difficulty nil tho time, and it is, I understand, the same overvwhere. ■ .