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1897 and 1899; the two enquiries were held in March, 1900; the
date of confirmation by the County Council was July, 1900: after
which the first steps for the aquisition of the property became
possible. The period of two and a half years since July, 1900 has
been occupied in carrying out the arrangements respecting purchase:
(a) in sending out to all owners of houses in the areas requests for
claims, (b) in valuing the interests disclosed in such claims, (c) in
negotiating the settlement of such claims where possible, (d) in
completing purchase, (e) in obtaining the appointment of an
arbitrator to deal with cases where no agreement could be arrived at
and in awaiting the issue of his award.* The provisions in the
Housing Act with respect to the purchase, otherwise than by
agreement, are of some complexity, and involve arrangements
occupying some period of time.t The delays which have occurred
in respect to the Finsbury areas are not, as far as I can gather,
wholly exceptional in comparison with other similar areas elsewhere
in London. At the same time, I wish to add that whilst
recognising that the delay in carrying out these Schemes is due,
in large measure, to the necessary proceedings under the Act, and
to the system of administering the Act practised by the County
Council, I must also state that, as far as I am able to judge,
the delay appears to have been prolonged by the slowness of appli—
cation of this system (the acquisitions and closures having mostly
occurred only in the latter half of 1902) and by the action of the
County Council in closing houses on all the five areas simultaneously
instead of proceeding with one area at a time. There may be
adequate reasons for these conditions, but they are not apparent.
The County Council is not yet in possession of, by any means,
all the properties on these areas. Approximately the returns up to
the time of writing are as follows:—
ºHousing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, Sections 12, 20, 21, 108, etc.
†Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, Schedule II, also Arbitration Act,
1889.