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65
The Vestry also took occasion to join with other Local
Authorities in calling the attention of the Local Govenment Board
to the judgment in the case of Gover v. St. George's Vestry
which appeared to render Section 33 of the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1890, inoperative.
HOUSE TO HOUSE INSPECTION.
In 1897 arrangements were made for the establishment of a
House register to contain full particulars of every house in the
Parish. In this register records are kept concerning the owner,
the mode of occupation, the cubic space in feet per room, the
sanitary notices which have been served, the infectious diseases
and deaths, and the condition of the drains. During 1899, 845
house to house inspections were made, and during 1900 only 743.
Out of the total number of houses in the Parish (approximately 6,000)
this number of inspections appears to be, and is in point of fact, altogether
inadequate. But taking into account the small number of
inspectors for the whole district this work is as much as could
have been reasonably expected. It has been carried out under
considerable pressure of routine work throughout the year. It is
important work and should not be neglected, for by it we learn the
exact sanitary condition of the District. The record of such work
is constantly of service and of very considerable permanent value.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
The Bye-laws as to houses let in lodgings which changed the
minimum permissable cubic space from 350 cubic feet per head to
400 cubic feet in rooms day and night, were enforced during the
year. At the end of the year there were 176 houses on the register.
The summonses which were issued to owners of registered houses
for not complying with the bye-laws numbered 15.
Steady but continued progress should be made with the work of
placing suitable houses on this register as it is one of the most
satisfactory and reliable ways of maintaining a good standard of
sanitation in such houses and of preventing overcrowding.
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