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THE  HOUSING  QUESTION

Dr.  Addison  :  "  I  would  refer  my  Honourable  Friend  to  the
terms  of  the  Housing,  Town  Planning,  etc..  Act,  1919,  under  which
I  am  empowered  to  authorise  County  Councils  to  act,  or  may  act
myself,  in  default  of  Local  Authorities  who  do  not  take  adequate
steps  to  provide  the  houses  needed  in  their  areas.  I  have  for
some  time  been  pressing  backward  authorities  to  expedite  their
schemes,  and  it  is  my  intention  to  use  my  powers  where  this  is
necessary.”
This  looked  like  business.  The  first  case  of  a  refractory ­
  Council  was  Bedford.  There  the  Ministry
held  an  Inquiry  and  actually  defaulted  the  Council—
for  a  day  or  two.  But  it  was  not  very  seriously  meant.
Bedford  were  let  off,  have  no  intention  of  completing
their  statutory  Housing  Scheme,  and  to-day  the
Minister  would  not  allow  them  to  do  so,  even  if  the
Council  were  desirous.
But  only  in  a  few  cases  were  the  Ministry  as  brave
as  at  Bedford.  On  a  certain  number  of  occasions  they
caused  to  be  written  petulant  and  semi-threatening
letters.  But  defiant  Local  Authorities  soon  got  used
to  these  and  learnt  how  little  harm  came  of  ignoring
them.  When  Sir  Alfred  Mond  succeeded  Dr.  Addison,
and  completely  altered  the  ship’s  course,  all  dilatory
Councils  knew  they  were  through  their  troubles  and  in
smooth  water  again.
Let  there,  however,  be  no  mistake.  Parliament,  in
1919,  gave  powers  of  default  to  the  Minister  and  intended ­
  them  to  be  used.  Owing  to  the  short-lived
sincerity  of  the  Coalition  Government  and  their  forgetfulness ­
  of  the  promises  upon  which  they  rode  into
office,  these  powers  were  not  used.  It  is  entirely