THE  HOUSING  QUESTION

49

It  will  be  noticed  that  Dr.  Macnamara’s  statement
is  just  the  opposite  of  his  figures,  whereby  his  whole
argument  is  invalidated.
Another  interesting  specimen  of  lack  of  clear  thinking ­
  is  to  be  found  in  the  following  replies  in  the  House
of  Commons,  relative  to  Building  Guilds.  It  should  be
prefaced  by  the  explanation  that  for  a  considerable
period  there  had  been  complaints  by  advocates  of
Building  Guilds,  firstly  that  the  Minister  was  not
allowing  them  a  sufficient  number  of  schemes  to  work
at,  and  secondly  that  he  was  keeping  the  House  of
Commons  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  houses  erected
by  the  Guilds  worked  out  cheaper  than  those  erected
by  contractors.
iZth  February,  1921.
Mr.  Charles  Edwards  asked  the  Minister  of  Health  if  he  will
state  why  only  16  housing  schemes  were  permitted  to  be
erected  under  the  building  guild  system  ;  what  are  the  reports
from  the  local  authorities  for  whom  the  guild  is  building  houses  ;
whether  general  satisfaction  is  given  both  as  to  the  time  taken
and  the  workmanship  put  into  such  schemes  ;  and  if  he  will
consider  withdrawing  all  restrictions  which  prevent  local
authorities  from  adopting  the  above,  or  direct  labour,  or  any
other  scheme  which  appears  to  them  locally  to  be  best  ?
Dr.  Addison  :  "  I  have  agreed  to  twenty  housing  contracts
being  carried  out  under  the  Guild  System,  not  sixteen.  The
contracts  at  present  being  carried  out  have  not  advanced  very
far,  but  so  far  as  I  have  information  Local  Authorities  are  satisfied
as  to  the  progress  and  workmanship.  The  system,  however,  is
still  in  an  experimental  stage,  and  until  I  am  satisfied  that  the
Guilds  will  build  houses  quickly  and  economically  I  am  not
prepared  to  sanction  contracts  in  excess  of  twenty.  A  revised
form  of  contract  will  also  be  required."