68 
THE HOUSING QUESTION 
Dr. Addison, in moving the second reading of the 
Housing Bill on 7th April, 1919, said :— 
“The power is asked, where a local authority defaults, to either 
prepare a scheme or build the houses ourselves, and if that 
were the conduct of an Oriental potentate I daresay we should 
have less trouble in the East. Let us come to the proceedings 
of the Industrial Conference the other day, and what did they 
say ? The Report, signed by both employers and employed at 
that conference, on page 9, contains the following : ‘ In order 
to meet the present crisis, the Committee recommend that the 
Government should without delay proceed with a comprehensive 
housing programme. . . . The Committee urge that where the 
local authorities fail to utilise their powers to provide suitable 
housing accommodation the Local Government Board should 
take the necessary steps for the erection of suitable houses in 
the area of the authority, and special powers, if necessary, to 
compel authorities to act in accordance with the housing needs 
of the district. ’ 
" That is exactly what is in the Bill. Let me say this : the 
local authorities are only too anxious to get on with the work. 
I have had many conferences with them on this Bill, and we have 
always got on very happily together, without any difficulty or 
conffict. But many of them fully recognise that it is in the 
highest national interest that this power should be taken in the 
event of an authority failing to do its duty. There is no affront 
to the authorities in making this proposal. 
“ We have in this Bill some very unique and unusual pro 
visions which authorise the Ministry to act the part of and in 
place of the authority. At the same time it is coupled with 
provisions which give an altogether unprecedented measure of 
aid to local authorities in carrying out the duties which the Act 
casts upon them, and it is right that it should, and I think the 
House will expect me, if I am a Minister, to exercise that right 
and discharge that duty, and in the case of those who are neglecting 
this urgent national duty not to hesitate to call upon others to 
operate, if necessary, on their behalf.