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33
The working classes have their social grades, and it is
more especially with the lower ones, including that section of
the community that has been aptly called the "submerged
tenth," that the necessity for constant and regular supervision
is, in my opinion, so urgent, with a view to keeping the conditions
under which they live as good, sanitarily, as possible.
It is no good to build model dwellings for such people to go
into after displacement; all that can be done is to endeavour
to keep their present houses in such sanitary conditions as
must eventually (at least, it is to be hoped so) re-act upon
the tenants themselves, and so raise their sanitary standards.
This is an important point to remember. It is easy to talk
of the working classes going out into the suburbs to live and
giving them facilities for so doing, by cheap railways, trams,
etc., but such talk does not bring us one jot nearer solving
the question as to proper accommodation for the poorer
members of the working classes, who either cannot afford, or
work centres. It may be that some of the (what I will call)
better working class will take advantage of such facilities on
the ground of health, and in that way relieve somewhat the
present congestion, but the good effect is likely to be counteracted
by the tendency of businesses, which are mostly central,
to increase and displace from their houses the very people
who ought to be catered for in the immediate neighbourhood.
The crowding (even overcrowding) that consequently exists,
and will exist, must be faced; it certainly cannot be prevented
by any power possessed at present by Sanitary
Authorities, who must be content, therefore, with minimising
the evil results that may arise therefrom, by constant supervision.
It is uphill work, but can be carried out, if trouble
be only taken and the Inspectors (in sufficient numbers)
encouraged to do their duties, and supported in the discharge
of the same—a condition of things fortunately obtaining in
Lambeth.
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