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78
informed us that the Housing Committee had deputed a
Mr. Nettlefold to inspect and report upon the Brady Street
area, with a view to its treatment upon lines similar to
those said to have been successful at Manchester and other
places. The Deputation was not favoured with a copy
of Mr. Nettlefold's report, and as he was not present at
this conference, the members had no opportunity of securing
any first hand information as to the grounds upon which
he based his suggestions, nor as to what extent the area
in question could be regarded as analagous to any of the
areas said to have been dealt with so cheaply and so satisfactorily
elsewhere.
Shortly, Mr. Nettlefold's plan for dealing with the
Brady Street area is to clear away a number of premises at
various points (usually one side of each street) on the
ground that such premises are "obstructive buildings"
within the meaning of Section 38 of the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1890, and to follow this up by
vigorous action on the remaining houses under the Town
Planning Act. In effect the suggestion would appear to
be that with these "obstructive buildings" removed and
the remaining houses thoroughly repaired (or closed and
demolished) where necessary, the site would be so satisfactory
as regards general condition, air snace and ventilation,
that no further improvement scheme would be
required. No reason was advanced by the Chairman for
thus varying the usual procedure prescribed by Part I.
of the Housing Act. On the other hand, the defects of
Mr. Nettlefold's plan are apparent to any one with practical
experience in dealing with slum property; but in order
to prevent possible misunderstanding a few of the objections
may be set out.