"IF ALL AVAILABLE BRICKWORKS WERE TO PRODUCE AT THEIR HIGHEST LIMIT
OF OUTPUT AND WITH ALL THE LABOUR THEY WANTED AT THEIR DISPOSAL THEY
COULD ONLY TURN OUT 4,000,000,000 BRICKS IN A YEAR AS AGAINST A
PRE-WAR AVERAGE OF 2,800,000,000."--(_See Report by Committee
appointed by Ministry of Reconstruction to consider the post-war
position of building._)
The first year's programme of working-class housing _alone_ calls
for at least 6,000,000,000 bricks. That is to say, unless wall
materials other than brick are freely used, we shall fall alarmingly
short of what the population of Great Britain needs in bare
accommodation, and all building and engineering projects whatsoever
other than housing must be postponed indefinitely.
"THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES ARE UNSURPASSED FOR
VARIETY AND BEAUTY OF CHARACTER, AND IT WOULD BE NOTHING LESS THAN A
NATIONAL MISFORTUNE IF THE INCREASED DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL HOLDINGS
WERE TO RESULT IN THE ERECTION OF BUILDINGS UNSUITED TO THEIR
ENVIRONMENT AND UGLY IN APPEARANCE."--(_Extract from the report
submitted by the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire as to
Buildings for Small Holdings, 1913._)