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Safeguards are adopted to prevent the spread of vermin; an inspection is made
every morning of the beds. If any vermin be discovered (or a trace of disease found)
the Public Health Authorities are communicated with and the bed and bedding
sent to a disinfecting station. Such occurrences are infrequent, but if the woman
again applies for a night's lodging she is asked, privately, if she would like to go to
a cleansing station. If infectious disease is suspected she is asked if she would like
to see the doctor free of charge. If these suggestions are declined, it is explained
that in the circumstances she cannot be admitted, as to do so would be unjustly
to expose other lodgers to infection; such refusals, however, are extremely rare.
The houses open at 8 p.m.; it is desired that the women leave in the morning
by 10 a.m. Doubtless when circumstances permit the Committee will consider the
desirability of providing day rooms: it would, seem probable that at present such
convenience, important as it is, could only be arranged at the expense of the more
primary need of the provision of as many beds as possible for the money available
which is being raised by public subscription. It costs a minimum of £7,000 to
start a house, but once the premises are open they pay their way on the shillings
contributed nightly by the lodgers.
Inspections.
During the year 619 houses occupied by the working classes were inspected;
this number consisted of 502 registered lodging houses and 117 non-registered
houses occupied by working classes. The total number of buildings in the Borough
occupied for dwelling purposes is given by the Census, 1921, as 3,473. The
number of tenements occupied by working classes as returned to the London
County Council is 8,571. This figure represents the total tenements in the
Borough consisting of one, two, three or four rooms.
Housing Scheme, Betterton Street.
In the Annual Report for 1928 reference was made to an extension of the
Housing Scheme in Betterton Street by the construction of a second block of 15
flats, in accordance with plans prepared by the Borough Engineer, Mr. J. E. Parr,
A.M.Inst.C.E. Owing to unforeseen difficulties the progress of the work was so
much delayed that the flats were not available for occupation until April, 1930.
A very large number of applications for these flats was received. Many
were from heads of families whose hours of work necessitates residence in the
immediate locality or whose weekly income is too small to meet travelling
expenses incurred by residence in an outlying district. Ample evidence was
afforded of the urgent need for more accommodation for the working classes in the
Central London area.
Boswell Court Site.
The Housing of the Working Classes Committee devoted much time during
the year to the consideration of proposals for a housing scheme on land in Boswell
Court. Although for some years there has been no buildings on this land many
difficulties, including the very high value of land in Central London, have hindered
its use for housing purposes; but the strenuous efforts of the Committee have
by now succeeded in overcoming much of the difficulty, and plans prepared by
c