TWO-STOREY TYPE.-B. HE plans of the house reproduced below are occasion demands. The dining recess can be used

designed to suit the requirements of the man without any interference with the sitting-room, and it

of small means, who prefers the two-storey to is not necessary to pass through the latter in order to the bungalow type, but who, nevertheless, desires some- reach the kitchen. thing a little more distinctive than the ordinary run of The kitchen is planned for the comfort as well as the houses of this kind.

convenience of the servant. The working portion, with The house here shown cost £1,200, and is eligible for the back door, can be screened off completely, leaving the full Government grant of £260, thereby reducing a comfortable sitting room, looking on to the garden. the net expense to the individual to £940. Besides On the first floor are four bedrooms and bathroom, being reasonable in cost of erection, it will also be found with direct service of hot water, and there are lavatories very economical to run.

and W.C.'s on both floors.

GROUND FLOR PLAN

• FIRST FLOR PLAN • The distinctive feature of the house is the L-shaped The north front is planned to face the road, the living living room, 23 ft. long by 11 ft. 6 in. in the sitting room, rooms, kitchen and main bedrooms facing south on to and 15 ft. in the dining-recess; it has been planned the garden. as the result of the experience of living in a similar room for many years. The floor and air space of one

A notable economy is effected by having only one large room offer far more advantages than could be

chimney stack, and this, combined with the use of obtained in two of a smaller size. A single fire on the

ordinary bricks, hand-made tiles, oak front door and open hearth is sufficient to warm the whole room, and

white-painted woodwork, gives to the whole the dignity yet it can be practically used as two rooms whenever of perfect simplicity.

D. G. T.

TWO-STOREY TYPE.-C.

basic idea provide as

curtail size of one of the north bedrooms would

THEiving role as possible withou Punciuley eramping necessitate á skylight over the staircase landing

the other rooms, and to eliminate passages

On the first floor are four bedrooms, one larger than
unless absolutely necessary. The entrances being in the the rest. Each has a fireplace and a cupboard and
centres of the two sides, the plan is adapted to either windows on two walls, giving cross ventilation. A linen
north or south aspect.

cupboard is provided on landing. The hot water cylinder
The living room has a length of 24 ft., with a minimum could be placed in this cupboard or on landing under
width of 11 ft. 44 in. and a maximum width of 17 ft. staircase window as desired.
It has windows on all sides but the north. The entrance The house is built of 9 in. brickwork rendered

lobby has a cupboard for hats and coats opening out of in cement, but it would be well adapted to 11 in.
it. A small room for meals is provided with easy access

hollow brick walls. The roof is shown covered
from the kitchen. The bath and w.c. are placed on the

with pantiles. The flats, bay and annexe would be
ground floor in an annexe, and are separated from the

covered with approved fibrous sheeting where the
house by a cross-ventilated passage reached from stair- bye-laws allow the use of such material. The living room

would have a boarded floor. The rest of ground floor
case by a glass door. This passage gives on to garden. would be tiled, excepting the central part of kitchen
It would be possible to do away with this annexe and which would be of wood block. The estimated cost at
place bath and w.c. on first floor, but this would Is. 6d. per cube ft. is £1,215.

P. E. N.

INCREASES IN COSTS OF LABOUR AND MATERIAL.

The accompanying diagram illustrates the percentage the figures given on the scale on the left of the diagram, variations that have occurred since 1914 in the cost of for the reason that a percentage calculation based upon labour and the average costs of materials required for another percentage will not give a true result.

a a cottage of the parlour type similar to the Ministry's type plan, No. 97.

It is of interest to note that the average costs of

materials at the end of 1918 (or at the end of the war For the sake of convenience a common datum line period) were approximately 114 per cent. above those has been used, from which the curves rise and from which appertaining in July, 1914, and at the same date the the percentages are calculated. A period of six years is cost of labour was approximately 56 per cent. above. covered, i.e., from July, 1914, to July, 1920. From 1914 In July, 1920, the costs of materials were approximately to 1919, the variations are shown year by year, and from 27 per cent. above those in December, 1918, and the January, 1919, to July, 1920, the variations are shown cost of labour at the same date was approximately month by month.

74 per cent. above. The percentages are based upon the average London

The lowest curve indicates the percentage variations rates of materials and the rates of wages ruling in the

on the total cost of labour and materials over each London area.

preceding stage. The downward inclinations, therefore, As difficulty was experienced in obtaining the output do not necessarily indicate a fall. of labour for similar cottage work in 1914, and during the war period, the present day output of labour has reduced, and this can only be brought about by the

·

It is of national importance that the cost of housing is been adopted throughout.

loyal co-operation of all concerned in building operations It should be remembered that the percentages have and increased production. If this desirable condition in all cases (with the exception of those in connection could be effected, the future development of the curves, with the lowest curve) been calculated from July, 1914. shown in the diagram, would then be downwards. The percentage variation between intermediate stages must not, therefore, be taken as the difference between

H. C. W. D.

HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES
DIAGRAM SME WING THE INCREASES IN COSTS OF LABOUR & MATERIAL SACE JULY 1914 BASED ON ABSURBAN TYPE COTTAGE SIMILAR TO

THE MINISTRYS TYPE PLAN NO 97
IN DHE CALCULATONS IME LONDON RAILS BEN TAKEN & THE PRESINI DAY OUTPUT

OF LABUA ADOPTED THROUGHOUT

A

S there had been considerable delay in putting There is undoubtedly a strong feeling of local patriotism

forward a housing scheme for the Borough of in the borough, and a great desire that the Council shall

Camberwell, His Majesty's Office of Works were be in the forefront in the matter of housing, but further asked by the Ministry of Health to afford any assistance sites are required to meet the needs of the borough. in their power to the Council, in order to make up for These are difficult to find, and until this difficulty has lost time.

been overcome the scheme will be limited to the number The Council desired the work to be undertaken by of houses now in course of erection. direct administration, in order to eliminate if possible the The houses on the Casino House site are built of high costs which were claimed to be due to the interven- Fletton bricks rough casted externally, with tiled roof tion of a contractor. The public spirit of the workmen at 45 deg. pitch, and casement windows. On the other would be arvused. They would interest themselves in the two sites, stock bricks are used throughout for the walls, scheme, with the result that the work would be forwarded the roofs being slated at 30 deg. pitch, and sliding sash much more expeditiously than under a contractor, and windows being employed. would be undertaken more economically in the end.

Labour.
Co-operation of Labour and Trades Council.
The Labour and Trades Council of the Borough were

At the conference with the Labour and Trades Council consulted with a view to securing the fullest co-operation a

it was agreed that the labour should be obtained so far of local labour in the scheme.

as possible through the Labour and Trades Council, it It certainly must be said that these claims have

being stipulated that that Council must meet the undoubtedly been substantiated. The general progress

requirements of the sites as made known to them, and of the work has been rapid and excellent; the amount supply labour in the proper categories and of the right of skilled labour has been increased in accordance with quality. No difficulty has, of course, been experienced the requirements of the three jobs; while the output of

as regards the general labourers, but bricklayers and the labour has been above that of the normal output on

carpenters have been difficult to procure in sufficient

numbers from time to time. other works in London. The men show the keenest interest in furthering the progress of the work, and act

The labour brought on to the site by this means is throughout as recruiters for the necessary labour required passed through the Employment Exchange, which does

all the work in connection with records, cards, etc. as the job opens up. As a result, the number of mechanics and labourers on the job on 31st July, 1920,

The appointment of foremen was made by a small was 674, which numbers have been obtained in a period

committee of representatives of the Office of Works and of roughly 11 weeks from the commencement. To obtain

of the Labour and Trades Council, and every man such a number of these tradesmen for a small scheme of appointed by that Committee has proved efficient. less than 300 houses within 11 weeks is a tribute to the

The appointment of the leading hands was left to the method of executing the work, and the credit for this is foremen, while the site stewards have been recognised mainly due to the Labour and Trades Council and its throughout, and all grievances discussed between them members working upon the sites.

and representatives of the Office of Works. Although At the beginning, considerable suspicion of Government matters in dispute have arisen from time to time, in no organisation was evinced, but that suspicion has entirely

case has there been a stoppage of work, and all difficulties disappeared, and, generally, the spirit shown during the

have been settled amicably. As a result, the labour has negotiations with the Labour and Trades Council has

been retained on the site when once started, and the been admirable, and excellent results are being obtained.

increases in the circumstances have been all that could

be desired. Scope of the Scheme.

The shortage of bricklayers and carpenters is too well The scheme embraces three sites, viz. : the Casino

known to need emphasis here, but in spite of this shortage, House site on the corner of Herne Hill and Red Post Hill, and the Hawkslade Road and Lanbury Road sites: number is still increasing.

115 bricklayers and 60 carpenters are at work, and this

In addition, there are in the Peckham Rye district.

already eight plasterers, six plumbers and five painters. The Casino House site is hilly and well timbered with Questions have arisen from time to time, such as a fine trees, and in the preparation of the lay-out plans demand for a guaranteed week. The situation has been trees have been preserved wherever worthy, while a fine clearly explained to the labour, and they have area has been allotted for a recreation ground. This site recognised the lack of power of the Department with presents somewhat expensive features inasmuch as its

regard to this, and- have left the question over for difference in level is 55 ft. from the top to the bottom end.

national settlement, which it is hoped will be reached in The total number of houses on the three sites is 290,

the near future. made up as follows :

The scales of wages on the site are :-
Type
Type
Site

S. d.
A.” "B." Flats. Total.
Casino House
30 100 24 154

Excavator

2 1 per hour. Hawkslade Road .. 24

52
8
84
Bricklayer

2 4 Lanbury Road 16

36

52
Carpenter

2 4 The lay-out plans and type plans of the houses were Joiner

2 4 prepared in a very short time by the Office of Works

Masons

2 5 and agreed with the Ministry of Health and with the Leading hands receive from 1d. to 3d. per hour extra to Housing Committee of the Camberwell Borough Council. usual hourly rates in accordance with their responsibility.

1