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Apart from the question of cubic space, in the case of the family
occupying one room for all purposes there can be no possibility of
privacy or commondecency, and in both the above-mentioned cases
the exigencies of space and other factors would generally involve
children of different sexes (often well past the age of infancy)
occupying the same room, and very often the same bed. The
far-reaching moral and physical effects of such conditions are very
serious, and, as the census figures indicate, there are many instances
far worse than those that have been suggested.
One could multiply examples of this kind, but sufficient has
been said to indicate that considerable overcrowding existed at the
time of census.
There is no reason to believe, bearing in mind the increase of
births over deaths, and the limited number of houses erected in the
year, that this overcrowding has diminished, and this state of affairs
may be expected to continue until the overcrowding of London has
been dealt with as a whole.
Notices were served in 14 cases of overcrowding, but no legal
proceedings were taken, owing to the known difficulty of finding
other accommodation.
Unhealthy Areas.— Several areas were inspected with a view of
Improvement Schemes, and five such areas were eventually represented
to the Council in July, 1922.
The Council approved the reports of the Medical Officer of
Health and the matter was brought to the notice of the Ministry
of Health. The Ministry decided to hold a Local Inquiry into the
matter, and this was fixed to take place early in 1923.
The areas mentioned were as follow:—
(1) Name of Area 1. Woodland Cottages.
2. Tiger Yard.
3. Joiners' Arms Yard.
4. Mayhew's Buildings.
5. Levant Street— Island Site.
(2) Acreage 1. .258
2. .173
3. .045
4. .188
5. .124
.788
(3) Number of working class houses in
area 1. 10
2. 17
3. 6
4. 14
5. 18
65
(4) Number of working-class persons to be displaced, 341 approx.