HOUSING AND ITS PITFALLS [To the Editor of Tar. SpEcrmron.]
SIR,—Apart from the social drawbacks of Becontree described in the article under the above heading it would seem that this estate, London's greatest effort for the provision of houses for the working classes, has even before completion reached its limit of usefulness in relieving the still continuing houSing shortage in London, as the last L.C.C. housing report shows that the number of cottages available for letting during the year was in excess of the number of eligible applicants and that the estate could only be filled by temporarily relaxing the letting regUlationi -and admitting at increased rents tenants who would not be ordinarily eligible. Matters have indeed in various respects arrived at a point where one begins to question whether, arguing from the case of Becontree; satellite towns outside the administrative area of the parent city are sound in principle. The formation of a central housing authority for Greater London has been advocated more than once ; and it is conceivable that in such a setting Becontree would not have become the sorry misfit it is now.—I am, Sir;
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