RURAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 205 



Need of Constructive Policy in Regard to Scientific Training 

 and Research and Industrial Housing 



An enlightened policy of investigation is now being pursued by 

 the Federal Government in regard to scientific training and research, 

 but the benefit to be derived from this work will depend on the extent 

 to which actual steps are taken to apply any measures that may be 

 recommended. So far the important proposals of the Royal Com- 

 mission on Technical Education have not led to the formulation of 

 any constructive policy to promote improvement in conditions, not- 

 withstanding the vital need of improvement. In this connection, 

 as well as in connection with the importance of conserving and develop- 

 ing human skill, and of providing healthy living conditions for indus- 

 trial workers, a forceful and significant address was delivered by 

 Col. Carnegie before the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Society of 

 Civil Engineers, of which an extract is printed as Appendix C. 



Some of the worst and most insanitary housing conditions in 

 Canada have recently occurred in semi-rural districts, where the manu- 

 facture of munitions and other materials of warfare have caused con- 

 centration of population. This is a national problem, because the 

 Imperial and Federal Governments are responsible for the growth of 

 the industries in certain districts and because efficiency in production 

 cannot be maintained unless the shelter provided for the workers in 

 these industries is adequate and healthy. New arsenals are erected 

 and new works established without proper provision being made to 

 provide suitable dwellings for the workers. In Germany it has long 

 been an established policy to organize the development of healthy 

 and attractive village communities for munition workers, as at Essen, 

 because of the fact that the chief raw material of a skilled industry 

 is the skilled worker, and in proportion as his health suffers from un- 

 healthy environment he is less efficient as a producer. Since the 

 Ministry of Munitions was established in England great care and 

 vigilance has been exercised in securing that the physical capacity of 

 those employed in munition factories would not suffer from bad 

 environment and lack of provision to protect public health. Experts 

 are engaged in building houses and developing garden villages in 

 neighbourhoods where industries are extended or arc newly estab- 

 lished. (Figures 37 and 38.) Nothing has been attempted in this coun- 

 try to deal with this problem, and the warning of Col. Carnegie 

 on this point is one which should be taken to heart at once and not 

 one to consider at the termination of the war. The skill and precision 

 which is being developed in those workers who are employ ed in making 

 munitions will be one of the most powerful factors in building up 



