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object precisely what was desiderated—" the provision of suitable lodging-houses for the working
classes "; " separate houses, or cottages, whether containing one or several tenements," by the
purchase or lease of any lodging-houses already, or subsequently to be, built, or by building on any
land acquired or appropriated by them. In the words of Section 69, the County Council could—
Erect any buildings suitable for lodging-houses for the working classes; alter, enlarge,
repair, and improve the same respectively, and fit up and furnish and supply the same
respectively, with all requisite furniture, fittings and conveniences."
The general management, regulation, and control of the lodging-houses, established or
acquired, vested by Section 61 in the " local authority," enables them to " make such reasonable
charges for the tenancy or occupation " of the rooms or houses "as they may determine,
by regulations," which, by Section 62, they are empowered to make " for the management, use, and
regulation of the lodging-houses." This section, moreover, makes it obligatory on the local
authority, " except in the case of a lodging-house which is occupied as a separate dwelling," to
make sufficient provision by by-laws for the following purposes:—
" 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;
" For determining the duties of the officers, servants, and others appointed by the local
authority."
It may be mentioned, in passing, that by Section 63, tenants of the lodging-houses become
disqualified for continuing in that capacity by the receipt of parochial relief, " other than relief
granted on account only of accident or temporary illness."
It was further pointed out that, failing action by the " Representative Committee," or the
County Council, there was yet a third course open; the Public Works Loan Commissioners being
authorised (by Section 67) to lend money to any " company, society or association established for
the purpose of constructing or improving or facilitating or encouraging the construction or
improvement of dwellings for the working classes: " any such company, etc., being authorised to
acquire land, and " for the purpose of holding such land," if not already a body corporate, was
nevertheless, to be " deemed a body corporate with perpetual succession." On the question of
"cost," it was observed that "one of the most satisfactory features " of the proposed scheme was,
that it might be made " nearly if not quite self-supporting; nay, in good business hands, should
produce a profit that might be applied to the extension of it to neighbouring streets, almost as
much in need of the benefits it was calculated to confer as the inhabitants of Notting Dale itself."
Confidence, moreover, was expressed that " properly gone about by an association, with the powers
of the Act behind them," no insuperable difficulty should be experienced in obtaining the houses
at their fair market value, plus ten per cent, for compulsory purchase.
The suggestion fell flat; no action was taken; but shortly afterwards a philanthropic lady
began to acquire houses in the Special Area, and ever since has continued to increase the number,
and to let them in tenements to respectable lodgers at moderate but remunerative rents.
In other reports—No. 5, page 58, No. 6, page 75, and No. 7, page 86 (1897), evidence was
furnished of the deplorable condition of the " Special Area," and the enormous expense entailed
upon the ratepapers by reason of the poverty and sickness of the inhabitants, 4,000 in number;
only a forty-fourth of the population of the parish, as a whole, though contributing one-fifth of the
total admissions to the parochial infirmary.
These reports were not without effect, for the Vestry decided to request the County Council
to acquire the houses in the five streets constituting the "Special Area," viz., St. Katharine's Road,
Sirdar Road, Bangor Street, Crescent Street, and Kenley Street.
The Vestry's action was endorsed in memorials* from influential inhabitants, Members of
Parliament, the Board of Guardians, and the Ruri-decanal Chapter; but the County Council,
through its Housing of the Working Classes Committee, turned a deaf ear to all representations,
alleging that the sanitary authority could do all that was necessary to be done by exercising their
* The correspondence between the Vestry and the County Council, and the memorials referred to, were published in
No. 10 report, 1897, page 118.