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to be utilised as lodging-houses, so as to increase the body of
respectable inhabitants already located in the district, and as
"Relief" houses, into which to draft the people, in batches, from
registered houses, so as to give the owners of such houses
vacant possession for the time necessary for carrying out the
annual cleansing required by the bye-laws. The ultimate cost
of such a scheme would have been small, as the houses pay their
owners very well indeed. The proposal did not find favour,
and in the result a limited scheme for providing a creche, and
resting and warming rooms for the poor people, was adopted.
At the present writing (April, 1898) progress has been
limited to the acquirementof a site for these proposed buildings.
My first proposal having fallen through, I made a further
recommendation, viz., to request the County Council to acquire the
houses in the district under Part III. of the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1890, with a view to their utilisation as
lodging-houses for the working-classes, subject to regulations
framed in accordance with the provisions of section 62. A
motion to this effect, brought in by a member, and referred to
the Sanitary Committee, was approved by that body, and
adopted by your Vestry. The request thereupon addressed
to the Council was endorsed by the Ruri-decanal Chapter,
who forwarded a petition to the Council in support, a
similar petition having been signed by the members for
the borough and certain influential inhabitants. The
matter came, in due course, before the Housing of the
Working Classes Committee, who, in reply, and without previously
reporting the matter to the Council, stated that they were of
"opinion that Part III. of the Act, being designed to facilitate
the provision of dwellings for the accommodation of
persons of the working class, in districts where the need for
such accommodation is felt, would not be applicable to" the
"Notting-dale" area. The Committee added that, "so far
from requiring the aid of the Council... the Vestry
possess ample powers, under section 94 of the Public Health