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of these and other foods being contaminated by flies and dust. Further,
the small bedroom fireplaces found in such rooms are quite unsuitable
for cooking purposes, and in many cases the grates are so small that a
frying pan cannot be put on the fire. The byelaws with respect to
houses let in lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family,
do not even demand one water-closet to be provided for every twelve
persons occupying the house. Whatever the number of persons in a
sub-let house a water-closet on each floor is, in many cases, necessary.
This would obviate the necessity of carrying chamber utensils down
the stairs and through a room possibly occupied by another family,
and would prevent the nuisance sometimes caused by tenants throwing
filth through the window into the street, yard, or passage below. I urge
that if the bylaws relating to houses let in lodgings were amended, so
as to deal satisfactorily with the conditions just enumerated, it would
result in a distinct improvement in Deptford housing.
During the year, New Regulations under Section 17 (2) of the
Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1909, have been prescribed
by the Council concerning underground rooms used as sleeping
places.
Every room habitually used as a sleeping place, the surface of the
floor of which is more than three feet below the surface of the part
of the street adjoining or nearest to the room shall comply with the
following regulations, namely:—
1. The subsoil of the site of the room shall be effectually drained
by means of a properly trapped and ventilated subsoil drain wherever
the dampness of the site renders such a precaution necessary.
2. Every drain passing under the room other than a drain for the
drainage of the subsoil of the site of the room shall be gas-tight and
water-tight.
3. The room shall be effectually protected against the rising of any
effluvium or exhalation by being properly asphalted or by being covered
with a layer of good cement concrete at least six inches thick or four
inches thick if properly grouted laid upon the ground of the site of the
entire room or in some equally effectual manner.
4. The space if any beneath the floor of the room shall be provided
with adequate means of ventilation.
5. (i.) Every wall of the room shall be provided with an efficient
horizontal damp-proof course which shall be composed of materials
impervious to moisture, and shall, if the floor of the room be formed