I2I2 



Agricultural Housing. 



[mar., 



doubtless will, it will be because they have found a legitimate 

 place which they may fill not as unwelcome competitors with 

 men, but as fellow workers by means of their own particular 

 gifts adapted to a new end. This is the legacy which Organisers 

 and workers of the Land Army, in co-operation with the 

 farmers, pioneers themselves, have left to women and to 

 agriculture. 



AGRICULTURAL HOUSING AND 

 RENT OF COTTAGES. 



The following address was given by Lord Astor to the 

 Agricultural Club at their meeting on 17th January, 1920 : — 



I have come here to-night, representing the Ministry of 

 Health, to speak to you respecting the necessity for provid. 

 ing the additional housing accommodation needed in this 

 country ; but I hope you will realise that although I am 

 principally concerned with housing, I am also deeply 

 interested in agriculture. I can assure you that the Ministry 

 of Health will constantly bear in mind the effects of their 

 housing pohcy on agriculture and are very anxious to work in 

 harmony and co-operation with the agricultural industry. 

 In July last I met the Agricultural Wages Board and outHned 

 to them the Government's housing policy. After an interesting 

 discussion the matter was referred to the Cottages Committee 

 of the Board for consideration. I notice that the Committee 

 decided to postpone any decision on the matter, and because 

 of that I have come here this evening to put to you the difficult 

 points which I hoped you would solve. 



In the first place, I think it necessary to have a few funda- 

 mental figures before us. The Ministry of Health's estimate 

 of rural requirements was 100,000 houses at once. The total 

 for the country was estimated at half a million. More recent 

 returns show that 500,000 is an under-estimate, so that we may 

 take it that 100,000 is the minimum rural requirement. There 

 are also large numbers of inadequate houses and old cottages 

 which must be replaced. 



There is a real and urgent need for new houses. We want to 

 get away from overcrowding, not only in the towns but also in 

 the country. In the near future we must provide reasonable 



