It may be stated quite definitely that labour is doing With regard to trainees, the agreement made with the well on this scheme. The average number of bricks Labour and Trades Council was that one trainee to laid per man per day has steadily increased, and although seven skilled operatives would be accepted, and trainees when bricklaying was commenced a very inferior class are slowly being drafted on to the work, where they are of brick was supplied, causing a certain amount of unrest, being treated sympathetically by the labour. the output was constantly good, when this was remedied. As to improvers, they are being brought on to the site

At present six tilers and three tilers' mates, and two by the skilled operatives who know men who can answer slaters and two slaters' mates are working on the sites, to the term “improver," and they work upon the job the aim being to keep them constantly employed as the under the conditions laid down by the Labour and roofs are battened ready for their work.

Trades Council, viz., that they shall have some knowledge The relations between the Office of Works and the of the use of tools and that their number shall not exceed Borough Council and the Trades and Labour Council are the ratio of one in seven. of the most cordial nature. The Office of Works' Labour The difficulty with regard to apprentices has been to Officer attends meetings of the Trades Council and hears indenture them for the period of their apprenticeship, all grievances at those meetings, and acts in conjunction the natural fear of the Labour and Trades Council being

with their officers and also with the manager of the that apprentices might be taken on for one job only and Employment Exchange. The local feeling between the afterwards would be turned on to the trade as inunion officials and the manager of the Employment complete workmen. · Exchange is excellent, and has proved very helpful

Materials and Transport. throughout the progress of the work.

One of the most convincing signs of satisfaction with Materials are obtained so far as possible through the the job is that practically no labour has left the site Director of Building Materials Supply, and where that since its first engagement, with the exception of a very source fails materials are bought directly by the few men dismissed for inefficiency, etc. Further, the Department. For small orders, to prevent delay in the Labour and Trades Council have agreed with the Office work, the Chief Clerk of Works may place direct orders of Works to the principle of dilution of the skilled with local merchants, forwarding a covering order to operatives by utilising trainees and improvers who are the Department with particulars of his action. disabled ex-soldiers, and also, under certain conditions, Haulage for the whole of the sites is carried out by apprentices.

contract; stock bricks being used on the Hawkslade Road and Lanbury Road sites, to the number of 30,000 entirely responsible for the purchase of material, the per day, are brought by barge to Peckham High Street control of the site staff and a system of costing. wharf and thence by motor-lorry to the sites. Fletton The system of costing is under the skilled Quantity bricks for the Casino House site are delivered by rail Surveyors of the Office of Works, and full data as to and by motor-lorry from Herne Hill station. All the costing can be given at the end of the job. roads leading to the sites are hilly, and the cost of The site is under the control of a principal clerk of haulage is somewhat high. Motor-lorries capable of works, with assistant clerks of works under him, and hauling from 3,500 to 4,000 bricks per journey cost also a general foreman and sub-foremen and leading £5 10s. per day, while cart and horse haulage for 600 hands, plus the necessary timekeepers. bricks per journey works out at roughly 28s. to 30s. Materials are requisitioned from the sites through the per day.

general foremen, and headquarters send covering orders

in respect of all material ordered to the chief clerk of Joinery.

works. All materials are checked by qualified material It was proposed at one time to sub-let work such as checkers, and the accounts passed through the checkers joinery, slating, tiling, plumbing, etc., but the Labour to the general office, and passed on by the chief clerk of and Trades Council gave a definite undertaking that works to the measuring surveyors at the head office, they would supply first-rate labour for executing this who in turn transmit them for payment. work if it was undertaken by direct administration, and The local costing on the site for labour is forwarded this work is also proceeding efficiently and economically by the leading hands to the general foreman, who

transmits to the costing clerk. The joinery work has all been manufactured in the borough, the Borough Council giving accommodation at

With regard to wages and timekeeping, the time-sheets their Grove Vale Depot at an agreed charge of 2 per

are prepared and sent by the timekeepers through the cent. on the capital cost of the joinery. This charge general site office to the Finance Division at headincludes the use of shops, storage, power, light and quarters, the wages being paid to the sites from the machinery, with the exception of small extra machinery general office. obtained to give the necessary output. At the moment, Conclusion, there are 29 joiners and machinists and nine labourers at the depot.' Sufficient costing has already been taken

The Housing Committee of the Borough Council take of the joinery to show that it is working out economically,

the liveliest interest in the scheme, and visit the whole while the standard is very satisfactory.

of the sites at regular intervals.

It is anticipated that the majority of the houses will Organisation.

be all roofed in before the winter, and that houses will It was made clear to the Labour and Trades Council

be ready for occupation within a month's time. in the beginning that the organisation of the work must

There can be no question that by the execution of this

work by direct administration with sympathetic help rest with His Majesty's Office of Works, but an under

from labour the progress is excellent, and the scheme taking was given to the Labour and Trades Council that

will be economical and rapid in execution. The standard all costs of administration and supervision, which should

of building is very good throughout, but it must always not exceed 5 per cent. of the total, and will be below this, would be kept separately and the figures would

be recognised that direct labour work requires the closest

knowledge of organisation and the most careful superbe open for their inspection at any time.

vision and control. This is now recognised by labour The organisation of the work is upon a very simple in the borough, and in no case is that supervision and basis, the Headquarters Staff of the Office of Works being control resented by them.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH (Miscellaneous Provisions) BILL. ON

N 16th August, the Minister of Health introduced

in the House of Commons a Bill covering a

number of subjects. Part I of the Bill, relating to Housing, is reprinted below, together with a number of clauses from Part II, which are of interest from a housing standpoint.

PART I.

HOUSING.
Power to hire dwelling-houses compulsorily for housing of the

working classes.
1.-(1) For the purpose of providing houses for the working
classes any authority, being a local authority within the meaning
of Part III of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890,
shall have power to hire compulsorily any house which is suitable
for the housing of the working classes and has not been in the
occupation of any occupier at any time during a period of at
least three months immediately preceding the date on which
the local authority make the order authorising the compulsory
hiring :

Provided that the term for which a house may be hired under this section shall be not less than twelve months and shall not extend beyond the twenty-fifth day of December, nineteen hundred and twenty-three.

(2) The provisions set out in the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the compulsory hiring of houses under this section. Amendment of s. 1 of 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 99.

2. Subsection (2) of section one of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919 (which prescribes the conditions under which grants may be made to persons constructing houses), shall have effect as though two years were therein substituted for twelve months. Amendment of s. 5 of 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 99.

3. Section five of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919 (which gives power to local authorities to prohibit building operations which interfere with the provision of dwelling houses), shall be amended as follows :(1) The powers and duties of a local authority under the

said section may, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the authority, be exercised and performed by a committee appointed by the

authority out of their own number: (2) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the

said section, either generally or in any special case, any local authorities having powers under the said section may appoint a joint committee consisting of

1

(c) any expenses incurred by members of the local authority Purchase and appropriation of land. or of'any committee thereof in travelling to and

23.-(1) The council of a county or a metropolitan borough from meetings of the authority or committee, and

may, subject to the approval of the Minister, appropriate for a subsistence allowance to any such members attending any such meeting, subject in either case

any purpose for which they may be authoriesd to acquire land to regulations made by the Minister and in

any land acquired by the council for some other purpose and accordance with a scale approved by him :

not required for that purpose :

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to the Provided that

appropriation of any land for educational purposes or to the (i) no payment shall be made in respect of any of the matters appropriation of land acquired for educational purposes for any specified in paragraphs (a) and (6) aforesaid, unless- other purposes, or effect the operation of any enactment relating (1) the expenditure has been specially authorised

to any such appropriation. or ratified by a resolution passed at a meeting of the

(2) Section ninety-five of the Public Health Acts Amendment authority held after special notice has been given to

Act, 1907 (which makes provision with respect to the purchase the members of the authority of the proposal to

and appropriation of land by certain local authorities), shall authorise or ratify the expenditure :

extend and apply to every district in England and Wales to

which it has not been applied by an order made under section (2) the association or institution is an association three of that Act as if had been so applied. or institution which has been previously approved by the Minister for the purposes of this section, and in Short title, extent, and repeal. the case of an association of local authorities, is an association which in the opinion of the Minister

26.-(1) This Act may be cited as the Ministry of Health

(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1920.
properly represents the class of authorities who are
members of the association :

(2) This Act shall not apply to Scotland.
(3) in the case of a payment under paragraph (6)

(3) The enactments specified in the Second Schedule to this aforesaid, the meeting or conference has been previously

Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the third

column of that Schedule.
approved by the Minister, or, in the case of a meeting
or conference to be held for the purpose of discussing
educational matters, by the Board of Education ;

SCHEDULES.
(ii) except with the previous sanction of the Minister, no
payment shall be made in respect of the expenses

FIRST SCHEDULE.
of more than three persons attending any meeting PROVISIONS AS TO THE COMPULSORY HIRING OF Houses
or conference, or in respect of the expenses of persons

BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
attending any meeting or conference outside the
United Kingdom ;

1. Where a local authority propose to hire a house compulsorily (iii) a subsistence allowance shall not be paid unless the member,

under this Act they may make an order for the purpose in the by reason of attending the meeting, is obliged to be

prescribed form. absent for more than six hours from his ordinary place

2. The order shall be published, and notice thereof shall bo of abode, and the amount of the allowance shall not

given to the owner of the house, in the prescribed manner. exceed a sum sufficient to meet such actual expenses

3. The order shall be submitted to the Minister and shall be of as ought reasonably to be incurred by the member. no effect until it has been confirmed by him, and confirmation

by the Minister shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements (2) Any approval given by the Minister or Board of Education

of this Act have been complied with, and that the order has been under this section may be withdrawn at any time by the Minister or the Board, as the case may be.

duly published and made and is within the powers of this Act.

4. No compensation otherwise than by way of rent shall be (3) Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of the

payable in respect of the house compulsorily hired and in County Councils Association (Expenses) Act, 1890, the Poor determining the amount of the rent no additional allowance Law Unions Association (Expenses) Act, 1898, or the County shall be made on account of the hiring being compulsory. Councils' Association Expenses (Amendment) Act, 1920, or

5. The local authority shall be entitled to enter into possession authorise any payment in respect of any matter in respect of

of the house as soon as the order has been confirmed by the which a payment may be made under those Acts. (4) In this section the expression “local authority

Minister, notwithstanding that the amount of the rent has not

been determined. any authority having power to levy a rate within the meaning of the Local Loans Act, 1875.

6. In default of agreement as to the amount of rent to be paid

by the local authority, or as to the other terms of the tenancy, Power of trustees to invest in county council mortgages.

the amount of the rent or the other terms shall be fixed by an

official arbitrator appointed under the Acquisition of Land 19. Section one of the Trustee Act, 1893, (which specifies

(Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, and the provisions the securities in which trust funds may be invested), shall have of that Act shall apply for the purpose, subject to the prescribed effect as though there were included therein mortgages granted modifications. after the passing of this Act by a county council under the authority of any Act or Provisional Order and secured on the

7. In fixing the amount of rent to be paid regard shall be had

to any sums which may have been, or may require to be, spent by county fund or on any revenues or any part of any revenues of the council.

the local authority in putting the house into a condition reasonably

fit for human habitation. Sanction of contributions by officers of a local authority to

8. Where the amount which was originally estimated as authority's loans.

sufficient to put the house into a state reasonably fit for human 20. Notwithstanding anything in section one hundred and

habitation subsequently appears to the local authority not to be ninety-three of the Public Health Act, 1875, or in any other

sufficient for that purpose, the local authority may with the enactment prohibiting any officer or servant of a local authority

consent of the Minister apply to have the rent payable reassessed from being concerned or interested in any bargain or contract

by the official arbitrator. made with that authority, no officer or servant of a local

9. In this schedule the expression "prescribed ” means

owner authority shall be incapable of holding any office or employment prescribed by the Minister, and the expression under that Act or otherwise, or be liable to any penalty. by

any person who would at any time during the term for which reason only of his having, whether before or after the passing

the house is compulsorily hired have been entitled to the of this Act, lent any money to that authority on any mortgage

possession thereof if the house had not been so hired. or other security.

SECOND SCHEDULE. Subscription by local authorities to local savings committees.

ENACTMENTS REPEALED. 21. A local authority may, subject to the approval of the Minister, contribute to the expenses of any local savings committee established for their area, or any part thereof, and any

The Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919. 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 35. sums contributed by a local authority under this section shall In subsections (3) and (4) of section twenty-eight the words be paid out of such fund or rate as the Minister may direct. "at a rate not exceeding five pounds per centum per annum.”

means

means