San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11
Housing Problem Is Latest
Woe Added to English
Premier's Burden.
HE'S TOO TRANQUIL"
Decisive Action and Ener-
getic Measure Needed
Is Public Belief.
BY A. G.. GARDINER.

Copyright, by The San Antonio Light.
London, March 1O.-The life of the
Bonar Law ministry is threatened.
The promised reign of tranquility"
has received a rude shock. Brought
into power three months ago by an
overwhelming majority, the ministry
finds itself in deep trouble. Three
ministers, seeking reelection in appar-
emily safe constituencies, go down to
defeat. Apparently there is no safe
seat for the conservative leaders.
What, you ask, is the cause of this
astonishing reverse? 1t is partly due
TO the disturbed and anxious state of
the public mind, but also to the grow
ing indignation over the housing con-
ditions. The latter is an ever grow
ing scandal. Entire families every
where are living in single room or at
the most two.
There is an actual shortage Of one
million houses in England. The late
government established a system of
rent control to prevent exploitation by
landlords. Now it is proposed that
this be abandoned within a year or
two at the most.
Want Houses Built First.
This suggestion has caused n panic
among the middle working class who
see themselves threatened with higher
rents while wages are falling and there
are no houses to go to. The result is
a tidal wave of public opinion is ris-
ing against the government and the
demand is being voiced for houses,
then decontrol at some later and more
satisfactory period.
Under present conditions it is i'm
possible to build houses at a satisfac-
tory cost so they can be made avail
able at an economical rental. Quite
naturally. private enterprise declines
to build through philanthropic motives.
1t would seem that the only way out
would be to treat the problem as one
of National emergency.
The effort of Lloyd-George to fl
nance building through the granting
of a state subsidy has proven ruin
Gus failure. The building trusts con-
spirs. to get the public money and in
the end they had the cash, but the peo-
pie had no additional houses. Law
has hesitated to initiate a new plan of
state aid or promotion and the defeat
of his ministers has been the result.
No government can exist which does
not boldly deal with this question.
Laws ,sponse to the electors is to
appoint Neville Chamberlain, minister
of health. This particular official is
responsible for housing and the new
minister who is son of Joseph Cham
berlain, is an acknowledged expert.
Should he provide a solution, the gov
eminent stock may revive, but at this
writing, it is very shaky.
Success a Question.
If Law fails it is hard to say who
would succeed him as premier. Lloyd
George .av.ng failed to form the CEN
ter party. and having been rejected
by the conservatives, now has made n
bid for reunion with Herbert AS
reply has been cold. He would like
reunion. but only on conditions
which would secure loyalty to the COM
mon cause.
A tremendous controversy has re-
suited, but there is the question wheth-
er even though the reunion shall come.
Asquith ever could accept Lloyd
George as a colleague in a new min
istry. Even if they did there still
would be the party to reckon with.
Georges presentation protrait still lies
in the cellar of the National Liberal
Club.
But he is clever and the party needs
cleverness. He also has funds and it
needs them too. But just what the
outcome will be is hard to say. A
ministerial crisis and the downfall of
the Bonar Law cabinet may be forced
at any time.
Added to the domestic problem, Is
the problem of the Ruhr. Our posi-
ton at Cologne remains dangerous and
humiliating. There is an ever pres
ent danger that German resistance
may develop violence. This would be
deplorable, because England could not
support France in such contingency
and the country would be torn by sheer
force of events resulting from the fail
ure of the government to initiate a
strong policy. Hence there is the need
for a bold declaration at the present
time.