70

THE  HOUSING  QUESTION

to  the  Minister,  who  not  only  allowed  them  to  drop
their  whole  scheme,  but  actually  caused  the  taxpayer
to  dole  out  thousands  of  pounds  to  the  architects  and
builders  in  compensation  for  the  abandoned  work  !
Everyone  in  Cornwall  knows  the  shocking  housing
conditions  of  St.  Ives.  It  is  a  new  proposal  that  the
taxpayer  should  be  mulcted  in  order  that  houses
should  not  be  erected.
Nor  is  the  case  of  St.  Ives  by  any  means  unique.
The  present  Minister  has  for  nearly  a  year  been  employing ­
  his  staff  to  induce  Local  Authorities  not  to  proceed
with  houses  which  the  Ministry  has  fully  approved.