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63
The remaining sections (2 to 10) relate to procedure, and measures for securing the local
authority against loss in carrying out the provisions of the Act. I recommended that it be
referred to the Public Health Committee and the Law and General Purposes Committee, jointly
or severally, to consider and report as to the practicability and advisability of the Council
adopting the Act. The report was referred to tho Law and General Purposes Committee, who in
due course reported in favour of adopting the Act, as follows—
"We have considered (pursuant to a reference by the Council December 10th, 1901) paragraph 8
of the report of the Medical Officer of Health, No. XIII., under the heading of 'The Housing
of the Working Classes,' in reference to the question of the adoption by the Council of the
Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899.
"We have also received a report from the Town Clerk on the subject, in which it is pointed out
that it might tend to the provisions of the Act being more widely known, so far as Kensington
is concerned, if this Council were to adopt the same, and that the Act might be found of
some assistance, later on, if not in the immediate future, in dealing with the housing problem.
At any rate, the Act being purely a permissive one, and it being quite open for the Council
to decline to make advances in accordance with its provisions, should they not deem it
expedient to do so, it would seem that the Council might very appropriately adopt the
Act. Attention has also been directed by the Town Clerk to the fact that, should the
Council adopt the Act at the present time, there would be no liabilities to come over to
them from the County Council in respect of advances already made under the Act, but this
might not be so in the future should the Council postpone the adoption of the Act and afterwards
be desirous of doing so.
"We have come to the conclusion that the Council should constitute themselves the 'Local
Authority' for the working of the Act in this borough, and we accordingly recommend—
" That the Council do adopt the provisions of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899."
The Report was adopted, but no further action in the matter has been taken at the date of
the present writing (April, 1902).
The Powers of Railway Companies.—In connection with the housing of the working classes
question I called the attention of the Council (in the XIIth report, page 182) to the fact of the
Great Western Railway Company having obtained powers to acquire a large number of houses
in the northern part of the borough for the purpose of widening their line. I referred to the expectation
that, within a twelvemonth, the necessary steps would be taken for acquiring 73 houses on
one side of Wornington-road; 11 houses in Admiral-terrace ; 15 in Admiral-place; and 9 in
Admiral-mews. At some later date the Company would, it was understood, require a number of
houses in Southam-street and St. Ervan's-road. Assuming only 12'5 persons to a house, upwards
of 3,000 persons in occupation of 240 houses would thus be displaced. The Company's Act of
1897 (60 & 61 Vict., ch. 248, section 76) places restrictions on the displacement of persons of
the labouring classes, when the purchase or acquisition of twenty or more houses" is in question
; and the approval of the Home Secretary must be obtained to a scheme for providing new
dwellings for such number of persons as were residing in such houses (at a date named), or for
such number of persons as that authority should, after inquiry, deem necessary, under circumstances
indicated in this part of the section (viz., (1) (a)). I added that communications were
passing between the Company and the Home Office; that land had been acquired by the Company;
and that certain plans had been prepared. I also pointed out that if fewer than 20 houses
.(say 19) be taken at one time, a railway company (or, for the matter of that, a School Board)
are not under obligation to make provision of housing accommodation for the persons displaced;
and stated that it was well known that such bodies had in the past availed themselves of the
knowledge by limiting the acquisition of houses to a less number than 20 at any one time, taking
a larger number in instalments, and so defeating the intention of the legislature. The matter
being so important, and it being desirable to take steps to ascertain what was being done in
regard to it, by an application to the Home Office, I recommended a reference to the Public
Health Committee and the Law and General Purposes Committee, jointly or severally, with a
view to enquiry. The report was referred to the Law Committee.
Subsequently by direction of the Public Health Committee I caused inquiries to be made
to ascertain the exact number of houses in the streets (or parts of streets) proposed to be taken, and
the number of inhabitants likely to be displaced. The result of the enquiry was as follows—
Street. Houses. No. of Persons.
Southam Street 78 1,430
St. Ervan's Road 50 608
Wornington Road 73 1,034
Admiral Mews 9 66
Admiral Place 15 108
Admiral Terrace 11 124
Total 236 3,370