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137
Another striking statement, made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whilst speaking on housing matters, was to the effect that he
looked forward to the time when medical officers of health would be
the servants of the State and not of local authorities.
THE STANDARD OF HABITABILITY OF HOUSES.
One of our greatest difficulties is to determine what is a house
which is unfit for human habitation. So low is the standard of
housing that, were the standard of habitability pitched too high, a
very large number of houses would be represented as unfit. Were
there houses into which the tenants could go, or were the town able to
increase, many of them would have to be counted as uninhabitable.
Where closures have been made, in some cases the tenants have had to
be allowed to stay after the prescribed time for removal, on account of
the difficulty in obtaining houses. On all sides the people are extremely
anxious to get better dwellings, and would, in some cases, pay larger
rents, but the houses cannot be obtained. It must be admitted that
there are a number of people for whom barrack dwellings with caretakers
are alone suitable—people who are indifferent as to what kind of house
they live in, or what locality, so long as they do not have to pay a
higher rent. How to deal with this class is a problem. However it
is the thrifty and careful workman whom one should most consider, and
it is for him that respectable and healthy houses are required. If a
sufficiency of houses for the working class were provided, then the
housing standard could be raised. But so long as the people cannot get
houses the procedure open is to close only those which are not on the
border line, but are undoubtedly uninhabitable, and rebuild houses for
the respectable and thrifty working classes at a moderate rent. This
would result in a general raising of the housing of the working class
community.
TYPES OF HOUSES MOST SUITABLE.
The type of dwelling which may perhaps be regarded as the most
suitable in ordinary circumstances is the self-contained house. This
type is generally more popular than the tenement dwelling contained in
large blocks, and has advantages in respect of health and comfort which
are not shared by the latter. Occasionally there may be a demand for
accommodation of a limited character, e.g., accommodation for newly
married couples or for aged persons without a family, and in such cases
it may be desirable to meet the demand by the provision of two-storey