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156
were issued against the owner (Mr. Gehringer), who was again
convicted and fined £10 8s. He then got rid of the property, which
passed into the hands of another house-owner.
On June 24th, 1903, we made a fourth inspection, which resulted
in finding that the overcrowded tenements had now been further
reduced to 21.8 per cent. Notices were served upon the new owner,
and I wrote explaining our previous action and the intention of the
Borough Council to insist upon having this street kept under better
management than had hitherto prevailed. He replied (July 20th,
1903), that it was his intention to assist us and comply with the
law, and he had made arrangements which he hoped would lead to
a better condition of things.
The fifth inspection reveals a percentage of overcrowded
tenements of 20.4. Notices have again been served upon the new
owner, and unless the overcrowding is further reduced it will be
necessary to take further proceedings. At the same time it is right
to add that, whereas three years ago 84 percent, of the overcrowding
in Bastwick Street was of a serious degree, leading to evident
physical and moral deterioration of the persons living under such
conditions, I have now to report that only about 33 per cent, of the
overcrowding is of what may be termed a serious character. In a
large number of cases one-room tenements have been converted into
two-room tenements as a result of our action. It should be added
that 10 empty tenements were met with, from which it may be
inferred that above 20 per cent, of the house accommodation in
Bastwick Street is unoccupied.
(b) Houses in several Streets (Memel Street, Ann Street. &c.)—
Night visits were also paid to eight houses in five different streets,
with the result that, out of 33 occupied tenements, 12 were found to
be overcrowded, six badly so. The percentage of overcrowded
tenements on occupied tenements was 36.3.
(c) The Italian Quarter (Italian houses only).—On this occasion
16 houses were visited in the Italian Quarter. These houses are
situated in Baker's Row, Great Bath Street, Coldbath Square, Bath
Court, Warner Street, Caroline Place and Corporation Row. The