THE HOUSING QUESTION 
89 
housing committees and technical officers of Local 
Authorities, to compel them to lower their housing 
standards, and on innumerable occasions approval 
of tenders and contracts was refused by the Ministry 
until modifications of the precise kind adverted to by 
Mr. Gillis had been made. The only inaccuracy in the 
question was the employment of the word “ all ” in 
respect of Type B houses and of dressers, cupboards, 
etc. The correct word he should have employed was 
" many." There is not a Councillor or official of a 
Local Authority throughout the kingdom who does 
not know well that Sir Alfred Mond's reply was a gross 
untruth. 
(3) Has the demand for houses recently lessened ? 
On 4th May, 1921, Sir Alfred Mond told the House 
of Commons that Local Authorities were in many cases 
seriously reducing their own previous estimates of 
need. 
Dr. Addison, when Minister, at the close of his 
tenure of office, had told the House of Commons, on 
10th March, 1921, that only a few Authorities were 
reducing their schemes. 
The National Housing and Town Planning Council, 
which is in as close touch with the Local Authorities 
as is the Ministry, and through unofficial channels in 
far closer touch, stated in its fortnightly Record oi 
19th November, 1921, that from its information 
very few Authorities were reducing their requirements. 
The question arises : Was Sir Alfred Mond on 4th