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18
The table appended gives particulars of the number of seamen's lodging houses
before and after licensing.became compulsory. There are several factors responsible
for the reduction in the number of houses and beds. Among the principal are:—
1. The movement of the shipping industry eastward to West Ham and
Tilbury.
2. The tendency towards shorter voyages, with the result that there is
less money due when seamen land. This in turn has affected the old boarding
house system, whereby an inclusive charge was made for board and lodging,
and the men now prefer to buy their own food.
3. The improvement in travelling facilities which enables the seaman to
keep more in touch with his home.
4. Certain areas in Greater London have not taken advantage of the powers
conferred by the Merchant Shipping Act. The result has been that in one case
at least a keeper refused a licence by the London County Council, as not being
a fit and proper person for the purpose, removed beyond the county boundary
and opened a Chinese boarding house. At one time trouble was experienced
with houses accommodating Arab seamen, and, in consequence of inspections
and prosecutions, the keepers of such houses also went outside the county.

The distribution of seamen's lodging houses in December, 1930, was Stepney,
19 houses, 784 beds ; Poplar, 3 houses, 80 beds.