; . . 
m- 
94 
THE HOUSING QUESTION 
the operations of the National Light Castings Association. 
Efforts have been made to encourage other makers to undertake 
the production of the materials of which there has been a shortage, 
and of substitutes for these materials, and there are indications 
that output is now improving.” 
Not a word of blame : not a word of undertaking to 
deal with the refractory Association. The Govern 
ment is true to its masters. 
(5) The history of an officially promulgated untruth. 
When Dr. Addison was forced to leave the Ministry 
of Health, the Government having decided to restrict 
its housing programme, the new Minister, Sir Alfred 
Mond, brought with him as Director-General his friend 
from South Wales, Sir Charles Ruthen. That 
gentleman, eager to find favour in the eyes of his 
Chief, gave an interview in the Press on July 16th, 1921, 
of which the following is an extract :— 
“. . . The position is this. In the early days of the State 
housing proposals it was considered that about 500,000 houses 
would be required, on which a loss to the State of about £io 
per house per annum was anticipated. The general attitude 
of the Ministry was to proceed to approve site plans, house plans, 
etc., for these houses. 
“ Passing over the period occupied by the preliminaries in 
connection with this big undertaking, we find, when the change 
from Dr. Addison to Sir Alfred Mond took place, there were 
approximately 176,000 approved tenders for houses, and prices 
soaring higher and higher almost weekly. 
“ There was a constant soaring from the commencement of the 
receipt of the tenders till about four or five months ago. The