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59
estate at all, I think the opinion expressed in December, 1918, by my Council
on the advice of their officers was perfectly sound, and I regret that within
twelve months the policy of my Council underwent a radical change. The
opinion expressed at the end of 1918 was:— "That the Council was not prepared
to build any houses, unless it was decided to form a single housing authority to
undertake the whole work for Greater London." Further, my Council stated
that it was not prepared to build a number of small houses which would
become a very heavy burden to the district, already heavily rated, and that
therefore Edmonton hesitated to launch upon a huge scheme before the
incidence of rates had been equalised for Greater London.
But if Edmonton must be in the fashion, the ratepayers cannot refrain from
wonder that the Brookfield Estate, behind the Town Hall, was not used for
the purpose. They have been paying for 20 years or thereabouts to the interest
and sinking fund, with the object of repaying the loan obtained for the special
purpose of acquiring this land for the erection of houses for the working classes
of Edmonton. It was then fully equipped with fencing, roads, sewers and
water-mains at a large further expense. Towards the cost of putting in these
mains, poor Edmonton is still paying an annual sum to the Metropolitan Water
Board, although even yet there are no houses requiring a water supply !