HOUSING

_Owing to house shortage in Sheffield, two wooden
pigsties are being inhabited, one by a man and his wife
and two children, and the other by a man and his wife.
Both men are discharged soldiers._--DAILY PAPER.


There will be no rest, and should be none, until every industrious man
or woman who wishes to have a real home can have one, where everyone who
has children can bring them up under conditions where decency can be
maintained and healthy life be possible. It is a question of urgency in
rural as well as in urban districts, in the most remote places equally
with the great cities. In this matter it is no case of having to create
or stimulate a desire for improvement. The demand has existed for years,
but after the War will be more imperative than ever. Somehow or other it
must be supplied more fully. Attempts have been made again and again to
deal with the question. Its importance is recognised and special
inquiries are now being made as to the best means to be adopted. It is
stated that at the present time half a million additional houses for
working people are required, and that 100,000 more should be provided
annually to meet the normal increase of population and to replace houses
which have to be demolished.

It will be necessary to consider, first, the provision to be made to
meet the existing shortage of house accommodation both in urban and
rural districts. At present a large portion of the population cannot
find a home or even any kind of accommodation that affords reasonable
comfort and decency. Since the War, in some places, such as Barrow, the