As regards the " Dwellings of the Poor," if legislation can help, what more is needed than the power given by the Act of 1851? This Act enabled boroughs and local boards of health to "erect any buildings suitable for lodging-houses for the labouring classes, and convert any buildings into lodging-houses for the labouring classes, and from time to time alter, enlarge, repair, and improve the same, and fit up, furnish, and supply with all requisite furniture, fittings, and conveniences." Under this Act, local authorities may purchase existing lodging-houses, and they may borrow, for the purposes of the Act, on the security of the rates. One might think this was a truly "model" Lodging-house Act, yet it has been a total failure. Little having come of this Act-the first of its kind-Parliament took another step, and permitted the Public Works Commissioners to make advances to various bodies towards the erection of such dwellings. It went further; it enabled railway or dock companies-in fact, any trading or manufacturing company-to borrow money for the building of dwellings for their labourers. In 1868, a measure was passed which permitted the vestries to pull down dwellings occupied by working men which were dangerous to health or unfit for habitation, and to execute necessary improvements at the expense of the owners. Sir Richard Cross's Acts of 1875 and. 1879 took a wider view of this social problem, and