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145
difficulty with which we have had to contend is overcrowding.
When information of this nuisance is obtained there is no
difficulty in dealing with it. But it is almost impossible
to get information. It must be said, however, that the
Inspectors came across very few instances of overcrowding
when making their house-to-house inspection, although the
result of that inspection was to show that the population had
increased from the estimated 3,750 in 1896, to 4,000 in 1897.
More cannot be done under existing circumstances.*
To sum up this melancholy subject, it has to be said, and it
is said with regret, that no improvement in regard to the
healthiness of the district, as judged by the death-rate, is as
yet manifest, despite the efforts madetoimprove the sanitary state
of the houses and their surroundings. Nor is much change
for the better, if any, to be expected until means shall have
been devised to secure amelioration in the conditions of the
home-life of the people. It was hoped that this would have
been brought about by action on the part of the County
Council, under the provisions of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890. But this hope has been dissipated, the
* It will be remembered that the Sanitary Committee, in 1893, regarded
"frequent house-to-house inspection" as the prime need of the district, and that
on their recommendation an additional (seventh) Sanitary Inspector was appointed to
take charge of it exclusively. A vacancy in the staff having occurred at the end of
1895, and not having been filled up, the number of inspectors thereafter was six. The
Special Committee (June, 1896) dwelt upon "the necessity of sanitary inspection of
the houses," which, they said, could "hardly be overstated," especially between
the months of April and October, the period appointed lor the annual cleansing of
registered houses. In accordance with their recommendation (d) the Sanitary Committee
were requested to "arrange for the suggested increase of sanitary inspection
with a view to the more strict enforcement of the bye-laws relating to houses let in
lodgings" The Special Committee had intimated that their recommendation of
increased sanitary inspection "did not necessarily mean an increase to the permanent
staff of Sanitary Inspectors." In July, the Sanitary Committee having ordered
the issue of some 220 notices in respect of houses in "Notting-dale," it was proposed
to appoint two additional inspectors, for one month, to assist in supervising
the execution of the required works, but the proposal was negatived by the
Committee,