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95
The houses for inspection and to be dealt with under the Housing
Acts are, in the first instance, selected by the Medical Officer of
Health, and afterwards approved by the Public Health Committee, as
the Housing Authority, the worst houses being chosen for the
purpose. It is obvious that by such an arrangement only the
very worst houses can be dealt with by the present Housing
Inspectorial Staff (i officers only), devoting their whole time. The
above record of work done may be regarded as representing the maximum
work that is to be expected proportionately, year by year, and,
having regard to the numbers of houses within the Borough, it is clear
that the question as to the appointment of extra Housing Inspectors
must, naturally, arise in the near future, if the maximum good is to be
obtained from the Housing Acts.
It is certainly to the credit of the 2 officers (Housing Inspectors)
that, despite the large numbers of houses dealt with, the work of
repair and reconstruction has been, or is being, carried out by the
owners concerned, except in a few instances, viz.:—(a) Monkton
Street (Nos. 41, 43, 45, 53) and Margate Road (Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19,
21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 51), in connection with which
statutory or legal notices were served by the Council on June 23rd,
1923, and February 13th, 1925, respectively; and (b) Durban Road,
West Norwood (Nos. 2, 2a, 4, 4a, 6, 6a, 8, 8a, 10, 10a, 12, 12a, 14,
14a, 16, 16a, 18, 18a, 20, 20a, 22, 22a, 24, 24a, 26, 26a, 28, 28a, 30,
30a, 32, 32a, 34, 34a, 36, 36a, 38, 38a, 40, 40a, 42, 42a, 44, 44a, 46,
46a, 48, 48a, 50, 50a, 52, 52a, 54. 54a, 56, 56a), in connection with
which provisional schedules only have been served on behalf of the
Council on October 30th, 1923.
Such a satisfactory condition of affairs may not always continue,
and the Council, as the Housing Authority, must sooner or later face
the statutory obligation of entering the premises and doing the
necessary works and surcharging the owners. Persuasion cannot
always be relied upon.

* Since 1914 the making of Closing Orders and the systematic closing of houses
in connection therewith have practically been in abeyance, with the knowledge and
approval of the Public Health Committee, acting on behalf of the Council as the
Housing Authority.