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70
Batter sea.—"In the borough of Battersea there is a number of houses let in lodgings under
circumstances and conditions which render it desirable in the interests of public health that they should
be registered and inspected at regular intervals. By the end of 1907, 123 premises were on the register,
and no additional houses were placed on the register during the year/'
Wandsworth.—" No difficulties have arisen during the year in carrying out these by-laws," and
Dr. Caldwell Smith writes, "I am again able to report that all these premises have been kept in
much better con dition since being placed on the register."
Greenwich.—Dr. Annis writes, " Out of a number of such premises which has been reported to
the Committee, it has been decided during 1908 to register 10, which together with 13 on the register at
the end of 1907, gives a total of 23 premises on the register of houses let in lodgings at the end of
the year. More recently, however, as a result of more pressing enquiries by the London County
Council as to what this Council was doing in the matter, the Public Health Committee have directed
that more houses of this class shall be placed on the register so that they may be inspected more
regularly.''
Woolwich.—The female sanitary inspector reports, " Satisfactory results have been obtained
from the continued supervision of the registered houses. Great improvement has been noticed in
the state of the bedding, etc., in some of the houses. There has been less tendency to overcrowd the
rooms, and efforts are made to separate the older children of different sexes.''
Water supply to tenement houses.
In 1907 the Council obtained the sanction of Parliament to a provision which was included in
the London County Council (General Powers) Act of that year and which empowers sanitary authorities
to require a supply of water to the upper storeys of tenement houses. This provision came into force
on the 1st January, 1908.

The medical officer of health of Stoke Newington reports that special attention has been given
to all tenement houses in order to see that a water supply is provided on each floor in accordance with
the provision of the Act.
The medical officer of health of St. Pancras reports that the borough council resolved on the 29th
July, 1908, that no action be taken in the matter. This decision of the St. Pancras Borough Council is
in marked contrast to that of the Borough Council of the neighbouring district of Islington, where it will
be seen supplies were laid on to the upper floors of 562 tenement houses during the year.
Mrs. Young, sanitary inspector of Islington, has noted the improvement effected in the cleanliness
of home-workers' premises as the result of the exercise of these powers. (See page 76).
Miss Middlebrook, sanitary inspector of Woolwich, thus writes of the administration of this
power in connection with houses let in lodgings: "A water-supply on the upper floors, where occupied
by a separate family, has been provided, as required by the London County Council (General Powers)
Act. This encourages the lodgers to keep their rooms cleaner than they would if the water had to be
carried some distance, instead of being close at hand. A strict supervision is maintained over
negligent and dirty lodgers to prevent abuse where a separate water supply and sink are provided, to
prevent the sink from becoming foul and nuisance arising.''
The Act makes no requirement that a sink should be provided in connection with the watersupply.
This point was considered at the time the clause was drafted, and the fear was entertained that
such a requirement might possibly lead to the use of the sink for the disposal of slop water and thus
give rise to nuisance. The medical officer of health of Hampstead, however, states in his report that
he has found the provision of a sink important and the borough council has been able to insist on such
provision inasmuch as in those cases in which the owners refused to provide a sink the house appeared
to be without a " sufficient drain *' as required by Section 73 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855.
Experience will soon show whether it is desirable that the provision relating to requirement of water
supply should be extended so as to include the provision of a sink in connection with the supply.
Houses infested with Vermin.
The powers contained in section 20 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904,
are being increasingly used by sanitary authorities for the cleansing of premises infested with vermin.
The annual reports supply the following information as to proceedings under this section in
1908 .
1 Number of notices served. In the case of Holborn it is stated that in the majority of instances the work was
completed during the year.