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THE HOUSING QUESTION 
105 
Listen to the sort of thing that electors used to 
be told by the present Coalition Government:— 
Minister of Reconstruction, 1918 : " One of our greatest 
and most urgent tasks after the war will be to secure good and 
healthy homes for all.” 
Mr. Lloyd George : “ At least 500,000 houses are needed to 
supply the legitimate demands for housing in this country, quite 
apart from the great question of dealing with slum areas.” 
Mr. Lloyd George, May, 1920, to the City of London:— 
” The interests of public health and humanity are at stake. 
. . . Adequate housing will ensure happy homes, which are the 
surest guarantee any country can provide against agitation and 
unrest." 
Mr. Bonar Law, on the same occasion:— 
“ If we did not make every effort to improve the condition of 
the people we would have a sullen, discontented and perhaps 
angry nation, which would be fatal in the last degree to trade, 
industry and credit.” 
Here, then, by the Government’s own confession, is a 
principal cause of the disaster which has overtaken 
our trade. It is the failure of the Government to keep 
faith with the people in housing. 
Here is an extract from a Ministry of Health paper 
advocating Housing Bonds, in March, 1920 :— 
“ Do You Want to Feel that Your Money is Doing Good ? 
“ The proceeds of Local Bonds will be used for construction 
of dwellings to remedy the appalling social conditions due to the 
overcrowding caused by the present shortage of houses for the 
working-classes.''