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191
[1908
numbering fourteen, should be increased to fifteen, that Inspector Jordan, then
engaged in the southern part of the borough in inspecting houses let in
lodgings, should be appointed to the new district, and that each inspector
should inspect the registered houses in his district. This resolution of the
Committee was adopted contrary to the advice of the Medical Officer of Health,
who was strongly of opinion that the supervision of registered houses should be
undertaken by special inspectors, for reasons set out in his report, which is
given in an appendix of this report. The Chairman (Alderman Cufflin)
also did not approve of the Committee's action, so that when the report
came before the Council, it was withdrawn for further consideration.
Unfortunately before that time arrived the term for which the Council
had been elected came to an end, and a new Council, whose personnel is
greatly different from its predecessor, has been elected. The Public Health
Committee are now considering the whole position of the sanitary staff, and it
is hoped that before very long the additional assistance will be obtained.
It is much needed, for many of the houses on the register are occupied by the
very worst class of tenants in the borough, and belong to the very worst class
of owners, or are managed by the most indifferent agents. There are some
houses and streets from which the inspectors are hardly ever absent, because
they find it necessary to call frequently so that the houses may be kept in
even habitable repair. The fault is not always that of the owner, because
experience has shown that tenants are often wilfully destructive; indeed,
so destructive as to tear down baluster rails and even doors, and to use them,
it is supposed, for firewood. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that
much of this damage, if not all, might be prevented if owners appointed a
caretaker, who might be a lodger, to each house, and who for some consideration
in his rent, would look after the premises. Unfortunately such a
proceeding is very rare, as the owners think they do quite enough if they send
their agent once a week to collect the rent. On such visits, however, he is
much more intent on money than on sanitary matters, and these are consequently
neglected, particularly if the tenants should be irregular in their
payments.
Improvements.—The inspections resulted in 2,254 nuisances being
abated in 1,049 houses, these included:—
Drains constructed 8
„ repaired 193
Traps fixed 44
W.C.'s—extra provided 20
„ amended 74
„ supplied with water 166