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52
Owner immediate proceedings cannot wisely be taken until after the now owner
has been supplied with all the information his predecessor was supplied with.
In the case of a tenant the same applies. In Court the owner may deny
having received the necessary information, or may plead that it was so long
ago as to have escaped memory, and Magistrates are not anxious to convict
when defendants have received no notice. Magistrates also require proof of
registration in each case.
Lastly, it is in the experience of the Vestry that there are dwelling-houses
that do not come, and cannot be brought, within the scope of By-laws for
tenement-houses—for one instance, Equity Buildings—yet such class of houses
require control as much as, aud in many cases more than, the other class of
bouses.
WASHHOUSES.
In providing for bathing and washing, the ultimate aim may be said to be
that every house should contain in itself bathing and washing accommodation
for the use of the occupants, and that every locality should possess public
swimming baths open all the year round for the cleanly exercise and recreation
of its residents.
1.— The provision of single baths and coppers in dwelling houses rather than at
a distance away from them. There are 25,000 dwelling houses in St. Pancras,
of which probably not one-tenth are supplied with baths, it is hopeless therefore
to expect to provide 22,500 single baths at public expense for the remaining
22,500 houses. This number is about what would be required if one bath
were assumed to accommodate nine persons, and if every person took a bath
every day, assuming that there are about eight persons in every house (the
census number was 8*7 persons per house), but if the interval of bathing were
prolonged to a week, it would even then require 3,500 single baths to be
provided.
In all new neighbourhoods even the smallest and cheapest houses have baths
and coppers provided, and it must be admitted that it is desirable for older
neighbourhoods to follow the example. If they do not they will gradually
lose the more cleanly, industrious, and intelligent portion of their population ;
whilst the less cleanly—the improvident and the listless portion—will remain
behind.
If owners neglect to respond to the "spirit of the time, the better tenants
will forsake their present houses for newer neighbourhoods, the older neighbourhoods
will suffer, together with all those who have interests in them.
The construction of public single baths and washhouses will not save the
situation.
It may be worth considering whether some means cannot be devised for
bringing to the notice of house owners the ultimate advantaga of providing
proper bathing and washing accommodation, and for encouraging them in any
efforts they may make towards improving the houses of their tenants, aud
consequently the locality and the dis trict.