persons displaced by slum reclamation schemes. In the course of the survey, Barnett came to the realisation that slums were a result of poverty, rather than social condition and that such people would not be suitable for a house purchase scheme, but rather should be given rented accommodation at subsidized rates. In 1937 the board reported to the government; amongst other things, the report contained a list of slum landlords, causing a storm of protest. The report was subsequently criticized for concentrating on housing conditions, rather than issues of poverty, housing shortage and excessively high rents. Nevertheless, the government was pressured into passing the Housing Act of 1937 which enabled the constitution of the Housing Commission of Victoria (HCV). The new Housing Commission was required to (i) Improve existing housing conditions; (ii) provide adequate and suitable houses for letting or leasing to people displaced from reclamation areas, people living under unsatisfactory housing conditions, and other eligible people; (iii) sell houses to eligible persons and make advances to eligible persons to enable them to become the owners of their own homes; (iv) Develop land for housing and related purposes. The Commission, with a full-time Chairman, John O’Connor and three part-time commissioners, Barnett and Burt from HISAB and a woman, Frances Pennington, met for the first time on 1 March 1938. The HCV proceeded to purchase land and develop low-cost (low-rental) housing for the poor, with the first projects constructed in Port Melbourne and Carlton. The early years of the HCV were marked by the conflict of the reformers’ desires with the social, economic and political realities. Some HCV proposals were later constrained by the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1944 which stipulated minimum house block sizes. In February 1948, after repeatedly clashing with the Minister for Housing, B. Barry, both Barnett and Burt declined reappointment to the HCV. Barnett became a vocal opponent of the new HCV multi-storey housing tower schemes. Later life For the remainder of his life, Oswald Barnett retained a strong interest in social reform. He remained an important figure in the Methodist Church, as a lay preacher and author of religious tracts. He also wrote several volumes of poetry and a book of revised nursery rhymes. In 1959 Barnett married Florence Fowles, his first wife having died in 1956. He formally retired from his accountancy firm in 1962, and died at Box Hill