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"(4) That it is desirable the period for the repayment of loans for workmen's dwellings should
be extended to 100 years, and that the Metropolitan Borough Councils represented be urged
to petition Parliament in favour of such a proposal, and to request their members in
Parliament to support the same.
"(5) That the summary procedure for acquisition of land for street improvements by compulsion,
conferred by Michael Angelo Taylor's Act, on London local authorities, should be extended
to the acquisition of land for the purposes of the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, in
lieu of the cumbrous, expensive and dilatory procedure provided by the Housing Acts."
The Housing of the Working Classes Committee of the County Council, having received
the above resolutions, reported thereon to the Council, on May 8th, but with especial reference
to the first two, stating that "the conference was held for the discussion of the relations of the
Metropolitan Borough Councils to the question of housing of the working classes, and whether or
not it is desirable to take common action as regards their respective boroughs." The committee
further observed that "the consideration of the whole question of action under Part III. of the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, as amended by the Housing of the Working Classes
Act of 1900, must, of course, be approached from different points of view by local authorities
and a central authority." They were of opinion, therefore, that "the Council should convene a
conference of representatives of the Metropolitan Borough Councils in order to discuss the steps
which they may propose under Part III. of the Act, and to arrive at a working basis of action
between the Borough Councils and the County Council, so as to avoid the danger of two or
more public authorities seeking to acquire the same areas"—presumably outside their districts,
and under the power conferred by the Act of 1900. The Committee recommended, and the
Council, by adopting their report, resolved, that a conference should be held at the County
Hall, Spring Gardens,"on June 28th. The object of this Conference, which was presided over
by the Chairman of the County Council, was to determine the respective spheres of action of
the County Council and the Borough Councils, under Part III. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890, as amended by the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1900. Eleven
resolutions to be proposed by the representatives of various Borough Councils appeared on the
agenda, of which the majority were ruled out of order, only those numbered 10, 6, and 7 (in that
order) having been adopted, as follows—
" Consultations between Metropolitan Borough Councils and the County Council.
" (a) That it is desirable, with a view to avoiding dual control and overlapping expenditure, that
no scheme for the housing of the working classes in any metropolitan borough should be
promoted by either the London County Council, or the council of any metropolitan borough,
pursuant to Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, except after due
consultation between the two councils (a) as to the desirableness of the scheme, and (b) with
a view to ascertaining whether the cost of such scheme can be fairly apportioned between the
county and the particular borough.
" Statistical inquiries.
" (b) That in order to ascertain the immediate responsibility or requirements of each Borough
Council, a simultaneous special inquiry be made by each council as to the number of the
working class that it may be necessary, by the conditions and circumstances of their employment,
to house within the area of each borough.
" Building laws and regulations.
" (e) That reasonable modifications of the existing building laws and regulations are essential in
order to facilitate the further erection of industrial dwellings."
The Conference, for no apparent determinate purpose, was adjourned to a date to be fixed in
the autumn, but no further meeting took place.
Subsequently to the meeting of the Conference, the County Council addressed a circular
letter to the Borough Councils requesting to be furnished with copies of any reports by the
Medical Officers of Health, on the question of the housing of the working classes, in relation
to the respective boroughs—for the use of the Council's Housing of the Working Classes
Committee, "who are considering the whole question in all its bearings."
Action of the Council.—At the date of the reception of the County Council's circular
letter above mentioned, an enquiry was in progress in this borough by direction of the Public
Health Committee, arising out of a resolution adopted by the Council December 19th, 1900, to the
effect—
"That a full inquiry and investigation be made into the nature and extent of overcrowding in the
borough, and that a report thereon be presented to the Council at the earliest possible date,
with a view to the speedy adoption of remedial measures if necessary."
The results of the investigation were summarised in the report, which will be found in
Appendix III. to the present report (page 125). The Public Health Committee accepted
the report and presented it to the Council, in October, with an introductory statement as
follows: —