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64
of the scheme these gentlemen found themselves left in
the lurch. Moreover, having paid full value for the
property they are naturally indisposed to spend more
money upon repairs than they are absolutely compelled to
do. As a result the decay and dilapidation of the houses
has increased, many of them are void, and the appearance
of the fronts is most forlorn and depressing. Although
hundreds of pounds have been spent by the Borough
Council upon combined drains (sewers by law) the unhealthiness
of the area has intensified.
We are advised by the London County Council to use
our powers and deal with individual houses, but even
supposing we dealt with all the houses in the area one
by one and got them patched up, such action would not
widen any of the narrow streets or abolish the blind
slums. Nothing short of an improvement scheme can
effect any real and permanent good.
We know by bitter experience the result of applications
for closing orders under Part II of the Housing
Act. If we are successful and the order is granted, the
houses are temporarily closed, patched up and relet, but
in the course of a few months they revert to their
original condition. Worse still, we may be unsuccessful,
and may fail to obtain closing orders as actually happened
in one of the worst slums of this very area.
In November last I made a careful inspection of Neath
Place, Pereira Street, and Little Collingwood Street. I
made a report to the Public Health Committee and
advised proceedings under the amending Housing of the
Working Classes Act of 1903. This Act dispenses with
the requirement to serve notice to render premises fit for