12o 
COTTAGES  FOR  RURAL  LABOURERS. 
Introductory. 
Thb  question  of  cottages  for  rural  labourers  has  been  referred 
to  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  required  in  the  Journal  of 
this  Society,  and  designs  have  been  given.  It  is  now  revived 
owing  to  the  opinions  entertained  by  various  authorities  that 
the  absence  of  suitable  dwellings  is  one  of  the  cau.ses  of  rural 
depopulation.  That  this  depopulation  has  been  and  is  still 
going  on  there  is  no  doubt,  but  to  what  extent  it  is  caused  by 
the  bad  condition  of  many  of  the  labourers’  cottages  is  difficult 
to  ascertain,  owing  to  the  fact  that  conditions  and  circum- 
stances vary  more  or  less  in  every  district.  It  is  therefore 
unwise  to  draw  hard  and  fast  lines  on  this,  or,  indeed,  on 
any  other  point  connected  with  land  and  its  equipment  with 
buildings  or  cottages.  Present  wants  may  indicate  that 
improved  cottages  in  a given  district  are  necessary,  but  regard 
should  be  had  to  future  requirements,  for  we  live  in  an  age 
in  which  altered  conditions  soon  arise.  The  improved  means 
of  communication  between  the  country  and  towns  which  is 
sure  to  take  place  will  tend  to  bring  about  many  changes. 
There  are  indications  that  labourers,  and  more  particularly 
their  wives,  prefer  to  live  amongst  neighbours  in  those  parts 
of  villages  where  cottages  are  grouped,  although  the  men 
have  to  walk  further  to  their  work.  Thus  an  important 
point  arises  in  connection  with  the  selection  of  sites  when 
new  cottages  are  deemed  necessary.  Moreover,  many  owners 
and  agents  of  estates  are  acquainted  wdth  costly  mistakes 
which  have  been  made  in  the  erection  of  farm  buildings  and 
farmhouses  arising  from  hastily  formed  opinions  and  a w'ant 
of  foresight.  Similar  errors  may  arise  at  the  present  juncture 
in  respect  of  the  erection  of  labourers’  cottages,  if  care  be 
not  taken  to  avoid  them  ; hence  it  seems  necessary  to  view 
the  question  from  every  possible  standpoint  before  deciding 
to  build. 
(/'ottage  accommodation  for  agricultural  labourers  formed 
l>art  of  the  inquiry  of  the  Royal  C'Ommission  on  Labour  in 
