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59
for the working classes. Section 53 defines the expression "lodging-houses for the working
classes," as including "separate houses or cottages for the working classes, whether containing
one or several tenements;" and "the purposes of this Part of the Act "include" the provision of
such houses and cottages." The local authority (under section 54) can exercise the same powers,
whether of contract or otherwise, as in the execution of their duties under the Metropolis
Management Act, 1855, and the Acts amending the same; and these powers appear to be ample
for the purpose (section 56). Under section 57 they may acquire land for the purposes of this
Part, in like manner as if those purposes were purposes of the Public Health Act, 1875; sections
175 to 178 inclusive. The same section enables them to contract for the purchase or lease of
any lodging-houses for the working classes already, or hereafter to be built, and to appropriate
them for the purposes of this Part of the Act. Section 59 provides for the erection of lodginghouses
; its reads as follows—
"The local authority may, on any land acquired or appropriated by them, erect any building
suitable for lodging-houses for the working classes, and may alter, enlarge, repair, and
improve the same respectively, and fit up, furnish, and supply the same respectively, with
all requisite furniture, fittings, and conveniences."
Section 61 vests in the local authority the general management, regulation, and control of the
lodging-houses established or acquired, and enables them to "make such reasonable charges for
the tenancy or occupation" of them "as they may determine by regulations," which (by section
62) they are empowered to make "for the management, use, and regulation of the lodginghouses."
The section makes it obligatory on the local authority—except in the case of a
lodging-house which is occupied as a separate dwelling"—by by-laws "to make sufficient provision
for the following purposes, set out in the Sixth Schedule, to wit—
"For securing that the lodging-houses shall be under the management and control of the officers,
servants, or others appointed or employed in that behalf by the local authority;
"For securing the due separation at night of men and boys above eight years old from women
and girls;
"For preventing damage, disturbance, interruption, and indecent and offensive language and
behaviour, and nuisances; and
"For determining the duties of the officers, servants, and others appointed by the local
authority."
By section 63, tenants of lodging-houses become disqualified for continuing to be such
tenants by the receipt of parochial relief, "other than relief granted on account only of accident
or temporary illness;" and by section 64, it is provided that any lodging-houses, established for
seven years or upwards, and "determined by the local authority to be unnecessary or too
expensive to be kept up," may be sold.
It would thus appear that the local authorities have power to provide separate tenement
dwellings for families of the working classes, and lodging-houses that would be available tor
the nomadic poor tramps, wayfarers, travellers, &c. Failing action by the local authorities,
or concurrently with action by these bodies, a third course is open; for the Public Works Loan
Commissioners are authorised, by section 67, to lend money to any "company, society, or association
established for the purpose of constructing, improving, or of facilitating or encouraging
the construction, or improvement, of dwellings for the working classes"; and any such body is,
for the aforesaid purposes, authorised to acquire land; and "for the purpose of holding such
land," if not already a body corporate, shall nevertheless be "deemed a body corporate with
perpetual succession!" Thus any body of philanthropic or business persons may assist in providing
a remedy for an evil which all deplore, and all profess a desire to remedy. But, it may
be asked—What about the cost? Well-managed, I think it probable that judicious schemes.
would be nearly if not quite self-supporting. It is needless to elaborate this point, however, as
enquiry would necessarily precede action. Much, obviously, would depend on the prime cost of
the properties to be acquired, and in order to keep this within reasonable limits, fresh legislation
may be necessary, to facilitate the purchase of slums under conditions at present applicable only
in the case of "houses acquired under the provisions of Part II. of the Act. If it become
necessary to have recourse to arbitration under that Part, certain principles apply, the application
of which to Part III. would tend to keep down prices. "Rental value" would, no doubt,
have to be taken into consideration; but evidence would be receivable by the arbitrator to prove—
"(1st) That the rental of the dwelling house was enhanced by reason of the same being used
for illegal purposes, or being so overcrowded as to be dangerous or injurious to the health
of the inmates; or
"(2ndly) That the dwelling house is in a state of defective sanitation, or is not in reasonably
good repair; or
"(3rdly) That the dwelling house is unfit, and not reasonably capable of being made fit, for
human habitation—