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107
careful examination by experts in foods before any can be safely
put upon the market; but it is my duty to see, so far as is possible,
that no such foods imported into the Borough are released for
human consumption unless they have been examined and found
fit to be placed on sale. It is only right and fair to state that
timely notice is given of the proposed dispatch to Hackney of
the consignments of bacon and hams and other foodstuffs, so that
arrangements for inspection may be made; I have no knowledge
of any attempt having been made to rush the bacon and hams
through the bacon-curers' hands quickly and surreptitiously, or
to place such food upon the market without the knowledge of
the officials of the Public Health Department.
THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN HACKNEY.
Hackney, though comparatively a young Metropolitan Borough,
is, nevertheless an old town; and, like most other towns, it contains
a very considerable amount of old and more or less dilapidated
property. On the other hand, large portions of the borough
are comparatively modern, and consist of streets of houses which
appear to be of good construction and in fair repair. But it is
frequently found that these appearances are deceptive, and that
internally much cleansing and reparative work is required. This
condition is due, at least in part, to the fact that streets of houses,
originally intended for occupation by individual families have
become occupied by people of the working classes who cannot
afford to pay the rents of the houses, so that the houses have ceased
to be occupied as single dwellings, and have become tenement
dwellings, let out floor by floor, or even by rooms. As the class
of occupier has become lower, and the numbers of occupants in
individual houses have increased, so also has there been increase
correspondingly in wear and tear internally, so that there are always
numbers of houses which require repairs. Every effort is made by
the Council to improve houses which are in dirty or dilapidated