292 CHAPTER XV. 
approach to the question along these lines would not only provide sani- 
tary houses and remove congestion, but foster thrift and self-reliance 
among the workers. For example, Governments and local authorities 
could encourage the formation of co-operative building societies by per- 
mitting recognised societies to build in areas already laid out and pre- 
pared for housing schemes. Employers willing to improve the housing 
conditions of their own workers might also assist in their development by 
granting loans, by giving subsidies or by themselves carrying out part of 
the work of construction. The best results are likelv to be secured by 
joint action. 
Erection of Houses by Workers. 
When suitable areas are cleared, provided with sanitary re- 
quirements and water supplies, and the land made ready for building, 
the public authority responsible might build plinths and then lease out 
the sites to workers, permitting them to erect houses to their own design 
under the minimum of supervision. A certain degree of supervision is 
essential in such cases. We found a scheme of the kind where loans were 
made to workers for the building and repair of houses, but no control was 
exercised regarding capacity, dimensions and materials, so that prevail- 
ing bad conditions were perpetuated. We suggest that such schemes 
would be greatly improved if specifications were incorporated in the 
agreement under which a loan is made. Under similar arrangements 
it might also be possible to provide houses for workers on a hire-purchase 
system. We were impressed with the possibilities of the scheme on 
these lines evolved by the Empress Mills in Nagpur, and we suggest that 
a wider use of this method might be considered by public bodies and by 
employers. On occasion it might be possible to open up land and permit 
workers to construct their own dwellings on plinths provided by the 
local authority, but here also municipal health departments should 
effect general supervision and insist on compliance with minimum re- 
quirements. A similar scheme has been put into actual practice 
in Jamshedpur. Roads have been laid out on an hexagonal plan 
in such a way as to leave abundant open spaces, and plinths are 
provided on sites arranged in groups to meet the customs and desires 
of different communities. This plan is only possible where building 
land is plentiful, but it is one which incorporates features with which the 
workers are familiar and is, therefore, the more likely to meet with 
success. Provision has been made for schemes of the same kind by 
several railways. Subordinate staffs are allowed house-building advances 
amounting to 12 months’ pay to enable them to build houses for them- 
selves. This facility, however, is not utilised to any great extent because 
of transfers and very rarely is it used by the lower-paid staffs. 
Workers’ Outlook. 
We are aware of the workers’ present shortcomings in respect of 
sanitary habits, but we feel that little attempt has been made in the past 
to assist them in reaching a higher standard. It has been suggested