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their approval, which was necessary before the Vestry could do anything to carry
out the scheme. The Local Government Board enquiry was not held until 22nd
February, 1893, and the actual sanction of the Board was not received until
2nd April, 1894, when the Vestry's scheme was sanctioned with certain modifications
as to the number of persons to be re-housed.
"Upon this Order being made, the solicitor to the London County Council raised
doubts as to its validity on the ground of it being ultra vires and that it had not
been made in strict accordance with the Housing of the Working Classes Act,' 1890,
and to remove the difficulties thus raised, and before the Vestry could proceed with
the scheme, it became necessary for the Local Government Board to promote and get
passed, the Housing of the Working Classes Amendment Act, 1894, specially to
remove the difficulties in this case.
"Another delay arose upon the dispute between the Vestry and the London County
Council as to the apportionment of the expenses of the scheme before-mentioned, and
this dispute was not settled until 13th April, 1896, when the Council, upon an Order
of the Home Secretary, agreed to a contribution of £27,500, the Vestry taking the
chance whether the scheme worked out at a greater or less nett cost than the amount
estimated. The wisdom of this course (and its consequential delay) is apparent from
the above statement as to how this scheme is actually working out, for it will result
in the Vestry bearing a very much less final charge than the Council will have to do,
and it is quite possible that it may yet yield a better return than that before
estimated.
"Further difficulty arose as to the powers of the Vestry to borrow for any expenses
other than purchase money or compensation, and altheugh this point had been
anticipated and pointed out by me in a letter of the 22nd January, 1894, when the
original order was being prepared, the Local Government Board issued the original
Order witheut providing for it, thinking that the Vestry had sufficient powers to borrow
for the laying out the ground and making the new street, under the Metropolis Management
Act, but this view was doubted by the London County Council, and before
their sanction to the necessary loan could be obtained, it became necessary for the
Vestry to apply to the Local Government Board for a further modification of the
Order, on the lines first suggested by the Vestry, and this further modified Order
was obtained on the 24th March, 1896. The appointment of an Arbitrator by the
same Board, and his proceedings on arbitration, caused much loss of time.
"Mr. Plumbe was appointed in July, 1895, when he prepared schemes for the
Model Dwellings to be erected as required by the Order, and further serious delays
occurred in getting the sanction of the Local Government Board and London County
Council to these plans, and meeting the views of the Council, as to alterations of dust
shoots, etc., on which an appeal was made by the Vestry to the Local Government
Board, entailing more delay.
'Furthur delay arose on the question as to whether the Vestry should themselves
erect the buildings, or let. or sell the land under covenants to others to erect them,
and this question was under the consideration of the Vestry, and on its agendas
from 7th April, 1896, until 16th June, 1896.
"Upon the Vestry deciding to build themselves, it was necessary to get the Local
Government Board's sanction to this proposal, which, after an inquiry held on 23rd
December, 1896, was sanctioned in April, 1897, this being the first moment when the
Vestry could legally enter into a contract for the building. After working drawings
and quantities had been prepared, advertisements were at once issued, and a tender
accepted on 7th December, 1897.
"Beyond the delay caused by the deliberations of the Vestry on the question of
erecting dwellings themselves, the whole ©f the slow movement attendant on this