By improving the dwellings of the poor, I admit, you replace a vast influence for evil by an equally potent influence for good. But pardon my reminding you that this is only one of many evil influences-the result of a cause you are not removing, but rather fostering, as you are doing for the poor man what he should do for himself; therefore I, for one, do not expect from "improved dwellings," if brought about by outside influence, so sweeping a reform in the habits of the poor as many anticipate. A 'remedy" is necessary. Yes; but experience has proved, in all ages, all climes, that remedies applied from outside by legislative authority have their limits. No authority has the power to work a " reformation " in the habits of the people. The State may insist that tenement dwellings shall be made habitable by their owners, but no law can reduce the cost of house-room. To pay the higher rent, the present wage must be sufficient, or the manufacture or trade of the locality sufficiently remunerative to pay the labourer a higher wage. If rents are too high, you force the poor man out of a house; but if there be a legitimate demand for "poor dwellings," and they can be built to pay a conscientious profit, we are justified in saying that such dwellings will be built, if the tenants will take proper care of the property and pay the rent regularly. But the fact must not be overlooked that "improved dwellings" mean higher rent, or greater care in the use of the property and less trouble in collecting the rents. There are two remedies: to improve the people, and trust to their purer instincts refusing to allow them to live in their present manner-make them "fitter for better dwellings," and be sure they will soon find the way to pay for them; or,