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51
converted into. Apparently the Ministry of Health, acting through
the London Housing Board in this matter, handed over the actual
work to H.M. Office of Works, who in turn appear to have let the
work to a contractor.
No communication was made by the contractor or the Office of
Works or the Housing Board to this Department that any works
were in contemplation or in progress, and it was only on our being
informed by the general public that certain works were being carried
out that we found that certain premises were being converted.
Although the By-laws relating to such matters specifically state
that notices shall be given, as a matter of fact no notices were given,
nor were any satisfactory plans deposited showing the alterations
to the drainage works proposed or carried out until some nine
months from this date, and only then after repeated requests.
Adverse reports respecting the character of the work being
carried out in connection with these conversions having reached'
the Council, I was directed to make an inspection of the premises
in question. Thereupon I presented to the Housing Committee of
this Council a report setting out the defects and illegalities which
I found in connection with the work which was being carried out.
This report was forwarded to the Ministry of Health for their
information and observations, whereupon this Council was asked
to send a deputation to discuss the subject with the Housing Board.
I had the honour of being asked to attend along with the deputation,
and, after having stated our objections, we were informed by the
officials of the Housing Board that we were entirely in the wrong,
that that Board had authority to override the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, in respect to its requirements in section 96
relating to underground rooms, and that accordingly probably I
might desire to withdraw my report on the sub ject. This I declined
to do, and asked that the matter should be referred to the Medical
Department of the Ministry of Health, and that the premises should
be inspected by one of their Medical Inspectors. This was done
and the Medical Inspector concurred with my condemnatory report
not only with regard to the technical illegalities, but also as to the
unhealthiness and unwholesomeness of the rooms and premises concerned.
Since that date numerous conferences have been held
between the Housing Authorities and this Council concerning these
illegalities and insanitary conditions, and now the whole of the
premises in question have been completed on the basis of this
Council waiving certain of the requirements under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, section 96, on condition that the
Ministry of Health gives this authority a letter absolving them
from all liability concerning the illegalities. Accordingly the
following letter has been received from the Ministry of Health
upon the subject:—