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54
5ft. 3in. This tenement, however, has been let to tenants on the
understanding that these two rooms shall not be used as bedrooms.
These various reductions in the standard of sanitary conditions
are much to be regretted, as, although we hold the above-mentioned
absolution from the Ministry of Health concerning the
matter, it will enable builders and others in the neighbourhood,
when requested to put their own property into good sanitary condition,
to point to our own illegal and insanitary properties.
These illegalities and irregularities are all the more remarkable
when one realises that the Ministry of Health in their own
Manual of Unfit Houses, volume 2, page 52, set out in detail all
the conditions with which these properties should comply, and still
they themselves fail in compliance therewith.
I may say that I have already received complaints in respect
of one of these basement tenements as to the damp condition of the
walls and rooms.
The completion of these works of conversion with the numerous
letters, discussions and conferences occasioned by the absolute disregard
of all sanitary rules, regulations and by-laws which was
originally adopted by the Housing Board, has all occurred during
the current year. It was thought better to complete the report
upon the subject in this Annual Report rather than produce in this
report the wholly condemnatory reports which had originally to be
presented on the subject, and leave until next year the explanation
as to how these matters were finally dealt with.