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friends through whom the tenants can directly approach the responsible
owners. The supervisory system is as advantageous from the moral as it
is from the financial standpoint. Nor is the liquor question at all blinked.
Two public houses were surpressed on the New-cut estate; and in
Walworth the Commissioners will now do away with one fully-licensed
house and three beer houses. Indeed, it is a fact that here and elsewhere
on their property they have wiped out one hundred licensed houses and
over one hundred beerhouses in the last 20 years, without paying any
compensation, because full notice had been given. Finally, it is not,
perhaps, altogether inappropriate that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners,
eagerly supported in this particular by their colleague the Bishop of
Rochester, should in this way facilitate the pastoral work of the Church
on the property of the Church. Latifundia perdidere Italiam applies with
equal truth to the effect of mammoth dwelling houses on the religious
and social life of their neighbourhood. The smaller buildings which the
Commissioners are adopting at least give some chance to the instincts at
once of family independence and social cohesion.
For his courage in presenting so large a scheme to his board Sir A. de
Bock Porter deserves every commendation. Years ago Dr. Thorold said
that the Commissioners should manage these slum estates themselves;
but that was quite easy to say. The secretary of the Commission, whose
knowledge of finance has more than once conferred great advantage on
those clergy who have funds in the Commissioners' hands, has here
extended the benefits of his judgment to a wider and even poorer
community. Other public bodies will be bound to watch the experiment
with the closest attention.