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they are more enclosed than was the case 40 years ago, inasmuch as the courts and
alleys of which they formed a part have now been covered by buildings very much
higher than the dwellings, and light and external ventilation are interfered with.
These houses lack the necessary amenities and are occupied by persons probably
who are unable to exercise discrimination in the choice of dwelling since they must
reside near their work.
The suggestion which I made for dealing with the present position was that
endeavour be made to obtain a site as near the City boundaries as possible and
thereon erect tenements which will house sufficient persons to allow of the preliminary
demolitions to be proceeded with as well as enable proceedings to be taken
to close the worst properties. By this means provision can be made for the occupants
of the most unsatisfactory houses on the Hutchison Street Area and for the
tenants of the Vine Street Area. If such additional houses were available the
housing problem would be less acute in the City and progressive improvement
would be possible.
This suggestion, as already stated, is receiving the attention of the Sanitary
Committee and both the City Engineer and the Medical Officer of Health have
received instructions to furnish the Committee with additional information.
SIZE OF CITY FAMILIES AND NUMBER OF ROOMS OCCUPIED.
The following table shows in the first column the number of persons in different
sized families and reading along horizontally it will indicate the number of families
of that particular size occupying respectively one to ten rooms. Thus, reading the
second line it will be observed that there are 76 families, consisting of two persons
in the family, occupying a single room, 323 families of two persons occupying two
rooms, 255 families of two persons occupying three rooms, and so on. The table
shows one remarkable return, that of one family of 13 found to be living in one room.
The circumstance is not within the knowledge of your staff, and it has not been
found possible to discover this particular family. Using the basis of two persons
to a room as the minimum standard of acceptable occupation it will be found that
109 families are living under conditions below that standard. These represent the
families shown below the black line which runs through the table.

A. = Percentage of families living in various units of occupation in 1921.
B. = Percentage of families living in various units of occupation in 1911.