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gated in 1930, 71 of the families having been inadequately
housed (i.e. more than 2 persons per room)
before removal. In 42 cases the room or rooms vacated
had not been re-let separately, having been either taken
over by the occupier of the house to supplement inadequate
accommodation for his own family or re-let in
conjunction with other rooms. In the remaining 58
cases, the rooms had been re-let separately as before.
Legal overcrowding was found in 4 cases, and morethan-two-per-room
overcrowding in 11 cases.
It will be seen, therefore, that the actual volume
of overcrowding is so considerable that it is being
reduced at a much lower rate than the transfer of.
families would lead one to suppose. The prevalence of
low wages and unemployment, with consequent inability
to pay an economic rent is no doubt chiefly responsible
for this slow progress. In the course of the enquiry
just mentioned, it was found that 12 other families
had been unable to take advantage of accommodation
offered by the London County Council, usually for
financial reasons.
2.—INSANITARY AREAS.
Improvement Schemes and Slum Clearance.
In the circumstances, it is not surprising that little
progress has been made in dealing with insanitary or
"slum"' areas. The Borough is too closely built on.
already to provide even temporary sites for displaced
tenants, and too overcrowded to find room for them in
existing premises. Unless, therefore, the higher authorities
(London County Council and Ministry of Health)
can place at the disposal of the Council alternative
accommodation within the means of displaced tenants,
it is obvious that olum clearance must remain practically
a dead letter in a district which ironically
enough is particularly in need of such schemes. Various