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10
Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act, 1875.
A Bill for the improvement of the Dwellings of the Working
Classes was, in 1875, introduced by Mr. Cross, the then Home
Secretary, and which resulted in the Artizans and Labourers'
Dwellings Act.
This Act, at present, has not been so productive of benefit
as was anticipated, but the subject has lately received much
additional attention, not only from the public but from the Local
Boards and the Metropolitan Board of Works; and, moreover, has
lately been brought under the notice of the House of Commons and
referred to a Select Committee who have taken evidence thereon.
It may, therefore, be reasonably expected, that considerable improvement
in the working of the Act will be effected. The unhealthy
dwellings which exist in this vast metropolis are, when we consider
its wealth, a great opprobrium, and now earnestly calls for an
effectual remedy which we may expect will soon be found.
The Select Committee of the House of Commons appeared to
be thoroughly in earnest in the matter, and they did not confine
their attention to the mere taking of the evidence of those capable of
affording practical knowledge of the subject, but they personally
inspected several of the unhealthy areas which had been submitted
to the Metropolitan Board of Works for their consideration and
approval, previous to clearing away the unhealthy houses from those
localities. On the 7th July, the Select Committee of the House of
Commons visited the Rosemary Lane and the Flower and Dean
Street areas in the Whitechapel District.
There can be no doubt that the large buildings which have been
erected on the sites previously crowded by most filthy and unhealthy
houses are an improvement, and if the class of persons who have
been displaced by the pulling down of the filthy slums should
occupy them, their health and physical well-being will be greatly
benefitted. The question, however, may be raised—is the present
plan, viz : the erection of large buildings, capable of lodging
numerous families under the same roof, the best for providing
habitations for the working classes, and is it desirable that so many
persons of the same class should live together in close proximity? It
may be further asked, is it desirable that facilities should be
afforded for the crowding together in London of such a mass of people