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41
Two Cases where Abatement possible in same Tenement.
In two cases the overcrowding could be abated by the use for sleeping purposes
of available second rooms. This the occupiers have promised to do, but have up to
the present failed.
No, Old Gloucester Street. ( — 689 cubic feet.)
No , Devonshire Street (-710 cubic feet.)
Notices have been served with a letter explaining that if they would use the
second room as promised for sleeping, the overcrowding would be abated.
Five Cases of Moderate Overcrowding—Action Suspended.
In the remaining five cases action has been suspended having regard to the
difficulty of obtaining other suitable accommodation. The extent of the overcrowding
in these five cases is as follows : —
4 adults in 1,348 cubic feet ( — 252 cubic feet.)
2 adults and 1 child in 778 cubic feet. (-222 cubic feet.)
2 adults and 1 child in 553 cubic feet. (-447 cubic feet.)
4 adults and 1 child in 1,366 cubic feet. (-434 cubic feet.)
5 adults and 1 child in 2,097 cubic feet. ( — 303 cubic feet.)
Sanitary Accommodation.
All the 233 houses inspected were found to have sufficient W.C. accommodation.
In 64 cases the accommodation was inside the house, in 117 it was outside
in tho yard or area and in 52 there was both inside and outside watercloset
accommodation.
Cooking Arrangements.
Of the 1,066 tenements inspected 287 (27 per cent.) had gas cookers; 207
(19 per cent.) had open ranges and gas cookers; 147 (14 per cent.) had open
ranges with no gas cookers; 96 (9 per cent.) had close ranges and gas stoves.
Other means of cooking were open range and gas ring, 43; gas ring only, 26; close
range, 17; open register and gas stove, 40; open register and gas ring, 14; open
register only, 32; close range and gas ring, 28; close range and oil stove, 6; open
range and oil stove, 7; in 88 cases where the tenants took no meals in the tenement
no faoilities for cooking were provided; in 28 cases it was impracticable to obtain
information on this point.
In only 14 per cent, of the tenements could the cooking facilities be regarded
aa completely satisfactory; these all had close ranges. The use of gas cookers in
small tenements often gives rise to nuisance, particularly as in nearly all cases
these cooking stoves are not provided with suitable hood and flue for carrying
off the fumes. The practice of placing the stoves on the landings is also objectionable,
resulting in the fumes pervading the whole staircase and, in consequence,
often most of the house.
Many of the tenants who were found to take no meals in their holding were
single occupants of one or two room tenements employed as kitchen hands or in
some similar occupation where meals are supplied as part remuneration.