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77
members of the Council and co-opted members of religious and
social bodies interested in the welfare of the inhabitants. Each
case was investigated on its merits and material assistance provided
in the form of grants of coal, new furniture and monetary assistance
where serious loss was sustained. It is satisfactory to note that the
total amount subscribed, together with the grant from the Lord
Mayor's Fund, was sufficient to meet all claims, and the balance
of the fund was used for the purpose of providing country holidays
for the children of the sufferers.
The number of cases assisted amounted to 390 and over 94
tons of coal, to assist in the drying, etc., of the affected houses,
were distributed.
It is fortunate that in Battersea, although there were some
narrow escapes, there was no loss of life as occurred in one or
two riparian Boroughs, and it is satisfactory to be able to report
that the prompt action taken by the Council was successful in
mitigating the alarm, suffering and hardship of so many of the
inhabitants of the low lying Wards. There was general appreciation
of the efforts which were made to render temporary assistance
in what was, so far as this Borough is concerned, an unprecedented
experience.
Following this catastrophe, the London County Council, in
April, invited the views of the Council with regard to an opinion
expressed by their Committee that the duty of supervising and inspection
of the flood defence works within the County of London
should be definitely placed upon the County Council. Their letter
also pointed out that whatever the nature of the legislation to be
promoted to give effect to this expression of opinion, it was essential
that clear and definite provisions should be made as to the scope and
character of the responsibility for the efficient upkeep of the works
as well as for their initiation, and that this object could be obtained
either (1) by placing upon the County Council the duty of continuous
inspection throughout the whole length of the Thames within the
county, in addition to the duty of prescribing any works necessary
from time to time, or (2) by placing upon the Borough Councils the
duty of inspection within their areas, and upon the County Council
the duty of prescribing such works upon receipt of reports made
as the result of inspection.
The Borough Council expressed the opinion that the duty of
continuous inspection of the banks of the river should be placed
upon the County Council.
The Council also considered a letter from the Metropolitan
Boroughs Standing Joint Committee upon the subject of the use
of underground rooms as dwellings, pointing out that where basement
rooms in low lying areas liable to flooding do not comply
with Statutory requirements, steps should be taken at the earliest
practicable time to secure that they are no longer used as dwellings.
The Health Committee, while in sympathy with the proposal to
close such rooms, were of [opinion that this could not be done at