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value and efficacy of possible further legislation at no
distant date, but we do not share that view. We are
satisfied that to ground further postponement of the
discharge of a most important public duty affecting the
lives of thousands of inhabitants of Bethnal Green upon
the mere possibility of legislative efforts resulting in
means of dealing with the area 'in a more satisfactory
manner" is a course in which this Council cannot be
recommended to acquiesce.
We now learn that the Local Government Board has
decided to proceed under Section 10 of the Act of 1890
to direct a Local Inquiry to be held on the subject by
one of their inspectors. We welcome the intimation of
such an inquiry, and had we not received a notice from
the Local Government Board of this fact, we should have
recommended the Council to have asked that an inquiry
be held.
In the circumstances we report as to the present
position for the information of the Council, and we have
asked the Officers of the Council to take such preliminary
steps as may be necessary to prepare for the proposed
inquiry. We therefore
Recommend—That the London County Council be
informed that this Council much regrets that after so
long a period has elapsed since the Medical Officer of
Health made a representation under Part I. of the Housing
of the Working Classes Acts, 1890, in respect of the Brady
Street area, it is not the intention of the County Council
to undertake an improvement scheme under Part I. of
the Act, and the reasons given for not acting on the
representation are not satisfactory to the Council.