30 
THE HOUSING QUESTION 
(c) Any superiority in the condition or amenity of 
the houses to be let by them under the assisted 
scheme, or in the accommodation provided 
therein; and 
(d) The classes of tenants in the district for whom 
the houses are provided. 
It is further provided in the same Regulations that, 
if the Minister of Health considers the rents fixed by 
the Local Authority too low, he may appeal to an 
Independent Tribunal, whose decision is final. 
This Tribunal consists of two representatives of the 
Minister, two of the representative bodies of Local 
Authorities, and a Chairman elected by the first four. 
It is obvious to anyone who reads these regulations 
that the meaning of them is that the rents shall be such 
as the local working-classes can afford to pay. This 
view has been taken by the Tribunal each time a case 
has been referrred to them, and it may be added that 
in nearly every case the Local Authority has won and 
the Minister has lost. It is further the case that, where 
the rent arrived at by («), (6), and (c) exceeds that 
required by {d), the latter and lower rent is the one to 
be fixed. 
More than this, Local Authorities are fully entitled 
to lower rents, previously fixed by them, if the dwindling 
wages of the tenants render such a course equitable. 
This has been done by several Authorities. 
Where Local Authorities have fixed the rent at such 
a level that the working classes cannot pay, it can only 
be because, either they do not know the regulations.