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to be more effective, as a deterrent, both to offenders and
others, than the infliction of a direct money fine. A case did
subsequently arise, and the application to close the house was
duly made, but the magistrates, who imposed substantial fines
on the offenders, declined to make an order to close the house,
influenced, apparently, by their conception of the inconvenience
it might cause to the occupants of other rooms.
The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890.—In
1897, your Vestry requested the County Council to acquire the
houses in the "Notting-dale" special area under Part III. of the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, for utilisation as
lodging-houses. The request was endorsed by the Ruridecanal
Chapter, by the members for the borough, and by
other influential inhabitants, under circumstances fully set out
in my fourth, tenth, and thirteenth reports for that year. The
Council replied that, in the opinion of the Housing of the
Working Classes Committee, Part III. "would not be applicable
to such an area." The letter of the Clerk of the Council
was printed in the tenth report (Oct. 13th, 1897, page 122), together
with my recommendation that request should be made
to the Council " to include in their next General Powers Bill
a clause giving power to the sanitary authority, to put in
force in their district, Part III. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890." No action was taken by your Vestry on
this recommendation. In July last, at a Conference of Sanitary
Anthorities on the subject of Overcrowding and the Housing
of the Working Classes, convened by the Bermondsey Vestry,
your Vestry being represented thereat, the following resolution,
among others, was passed :—
" That the London County Council be approached
with a view to the insertion of a clause in their
General Powers Bill of 1899, to enable Metropolitan
Vestries and District Boards, to erect
municipal dwellings, under Part 111, of the Housing
of the Working Classes Act, 1890."