The latest figures.

It has been found from figures returned by local
authorities that about 800,000 houses are required at the
present time. The question is threefold :-

1. The problem of new houses.
2. The problem of slum clearances.
3. The town planning for the future.

These are the three chief directions of action to be taken by bodies responsible for housing in the next few years. England is not alone in this matter. All over the world similar problems are facing the Governments of other nations. To-day this country is, as a matter of fact, further advanced with its schemes than any other country in the world.

Much of the land required has already been acquired. During 1919 sufficient land, reckoning on the basis of ten houses to the acre, to erect 600,000 houses, was approved. To 17th November 1920, 52,857 houses had been commenced by local authorities, in addition to 28,000 public utility society and private builder (subsidy) houses. £86,500,000 had been raised in Housing Loans, including over £13,000,000 by Housing Bonds.

On 1st November 1920, the number of houses built by local authorities and public utility societies was 9,171, including 424 flats, but excluding Army huts converted into dwellings; and 3,106 had been built by private builders (subsidy houses).

On 1st December 1920, 16,187 houses had been completed, of which 11,122 were provided by local authorities and public utility societies and 5,065 under the private builders' subsidy scheme; 52,396 other houses were in various stages of construction by local authorities and public utility societies; and preliminary certificates had been issued in respect of a further 21,448 houses under the private builders' subsidy scheme. The total number of houses included in signed contracts on 11th December by local authorities was 133,301,

CHAPTER II

THE POWER AND DUTIES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES: THE

PROVISION OF HOUSES FOR THE WORKING CLASSES

By sections 1 and 2 of the Housing, Town Planning, Chief powers. &c., Act, 1919 (referred to subsequently as the 1919 Act, or the Act of 1919) local authorities are required to provide houses for the working classes in accordance with the needs of their areas; and, notably by sections 12 and 15, their Part III (1890) powers are enlarged to that end. Further, by section 7, a large proportion of their financial losses and expenses, arising out of such provision, is met out of moneys provided by Parliament, conditionally upon the provision being made within a specified period.

The local authorities for the provision of these houses Definitions. (see the 1890 Act, 1st schedule) are :

Town Councils,

Urban District Councils, and

Rural District Councils (see also section

1900 Act).

And in London :

The Common Council of the City (for the City), and
The London County Council, and

The Metropolitan Borough Councils (for the remainder
of the Administrative County of London) (see also

the 1919 Act, section 41).

The position in London differs from that in the country London. generally, because of the special position of the London County Council. Excluding the City, in which the Common Council is the housing authority, the powers

No. of local authorities.

and duties in housing matters are divided between the London County Council and the Metropolitan Borough Councils. Section 41 contains a provision defining their powers and duties.

The provision of additional accommodation is a matter for the Metropolitan Borough Councils, if it is to be made to meet a shortage within the borough, and also on land within the borough.

The provision of new houses becomes a matter for the London County Council if the new houses are to be provided outside the county. In certain circumstances, the London County Council may submit a scheme to the Ministry of Health for the use of land in a Metropolitan Borough to meet the needs of districts outside the borough.

The London County Council and the Common Council of the City of London are empowered to enter into agreements with one another for carrying out any schemes for new houses or for slum clearances (section 41).

The number of local authorities required to submit schemes under the 1919 Act is as follows:

In certain circumstances county councils may be empowered to exercise the housing powers of local authorities (see Chapter IV, which deals with the powers and duties of county councils).

The schemes mentioned are Part III schemes, that is schemes for the provision of housing for the working classes under the provisions of Part III of the principal (1890) Act, as amended. Those at present in operation are also referred to as "assisted schemes," because the loss thereon is being chiefly met by moneys provided by Parliament.

the 1890 Act.

In Part III of the principal Act, sections 53 to 59 Provisions of give powers to local authorities to acquire and appropriate land (see also section 2, 1909 Act, and section 22 of the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919) and to erect, convert, alter, &c., buildings suitable for lodging houses for the working classes—which phrase has the same meaning as "houses for the working classes" used in the 1919 Act, see section 40 thereof. These powers are greatly enlarged by the 1919 Act (sections 12 and 15, see also section 11, 1903).

Sections 61 and 62 deal with the management of such houses, including the making of by-laws-as to which, see now section 25 of the 1919 Act.

Sections 65 and 66 deal with the expenses and borrowing powers of local authorities for Part III purposes; see also sections 3 (1900), 1 and 15 (1903), 3 and 31 (1909), and 7 (Additional Powers Act, 1919).

Sections 67-71 deal with loans to and powers of companies, societies and individuals to provide houses: see also sections 20 and 21 (1919). Water and gas companies can make supplies free or on favourable terms to Part III houses (section 69), which must be open for inspection by the local authority (section 70).

By section 74 land may be sold, &c., for workingclass dwellings at lower prices than could be otherwise obtained, by companies and tenants for life under the Settled Land Acts, see also sections 7 (1909) and 31 (1919).

By section 80 separate accounts have to be kept by the local authority, and audited: see also section 4 (1900). By section 81 housing committees may be formed and persons co-opted thereto.

Section 82 deals with the application of the purchasemoney when land is sold.

By section 88 persons interested are prohibited from voting as members of the local authority, and section 89 provides the penalty for obstructing the execution of the Act.

Provisions of subsequent

Acts.

`Re-housing.

By section 1 of the 1900 Act, a local authority, other than a rural district council, may acquire land for Part III purposes outside their district. As to the special cases of London, see now section 41 (1919).

Section 1 of the 1909 Act provides that Part III shall take effect without adoption. Previously it could be put into operation only after adoption. Section 5 (1909) deals with the payment of purchase or compensation money which would otherwise be paid into court.

By section 8 (1909) a local authority may accept donations of land or money see also section 31 (1919). Sections 10-13 (1909) deal with the powers of enforcing the Act: see now sections 3 and 4 (1919).

Section 34 (1909) makes it unnecessary for local authorities to make good the deficiency in land tax and poor rate, resulting from their acquiring land for housing purposes and putting it temporarily out of rating.

Other provisions of the 1909 Act include power of entry (section 36); power of Ministry to obtain report on any crowded area (section 37); joint action by local authorities (section 38, see also section 1 (6) 1919); appeals to Ministry (section 39); sale and disposal of buildings (section 40); power of Ministry to prescribe forms and to dispense with advertisements (section 41); power to revoke unreasonable by-laws (section 44, see now, however, section 24 of the 1919 Act); saving of sites of ancient monuments (section 45, see also section 1 (3) of the 1919 Act); provisions as to commons and open spaces (section 73) and to land in the neighbourhood of Royal palaces or parks (section 74).

A more extended reference to some of the powers under the 1919 Act is made below.

By section 10 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, the Minister may acquire land for the purpose of garden cities or town-planning schemes on behalf of local authorities and others.

By sections 6, 11, 12 and 40 of the 1890 Act, local