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for careful examination of dwelling-houses, and, where necessary,
for vigorous action."
Unhealthy Dwelling Houses.—A record is kept in the
Public Health Department of every dwelling house in the Borough,
and by means of regular inspections and investigations after infectious
diseases, the record is being continually added to, and thus a "life
history" of each house is obtained. In various portions of the
Borough, as all over Central London, there are houses constantly
requiring sanitary supervision, and from time to time our attention
is called to houses quite beyond repair, and which no reasonable
alteration would make sanitary. In this event, Part II. of the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, is applicable and should
be put into force. In this way such houses may be closed and
demolished. I may add that I view systematic house to house
inspection, and the house record as matters of the first importance.
For by such means the Sanitary Authority obtains more or less
complete knowledge of the house property in the Borough. The
work entails considerable labour and the Staff of Sanitary Inspectors
should be such that it can be properly executed.
Rebuilding, &C.—The question of providing increased
accommodation for housing the poor and the closely allied question
of reconstruction after a clearance of an insanitary area are two of
the most difficult matters in the entire housing problem. Indeed,
they together form the problem, particularly in London.
It is proposed to insert a few notes here which may be of some
assistance to members of the Borough Council in the consideration
of this question. No attempt will be made to lay down hard and
fast lines as to whether the Borough Council should or should not
undertake more or less extensive responsibilities in this direction.
In any case, there are a number of facts and figures which must be
borne in mind in considering this matter.
* It will have been observed that there are already five insanitary areas in
the hands of the County Council, and these should be completed and the
displaced persons, so far as necessary, re-housed before any further action under
Part I. is taken.