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possible dryness, and to obviate the evils resulting from the practice of
throwing filth in the yard, and even on the surface of the roadways,
which might with advantage be asphalted as, in effect, the Sanitary
Committee recommended in 1893. (This is now being done in three
streets and part of a fourth street.)
'Obviously the drainage should be made as perfect as possible, and
I should be glad to see all the untrapped drains properly intercepted
from the sewer. Many of the houses have already been provided with
this safeguard against the incursion of sewer gas, in the event of the
drain being otherwise defective.
'Lastly, every practicable effort should be made to prevent over
crowding, and to enforce the prescribed penalty whenever this most
dangerous of nuisances is found to exist.
The Cost.—Dealing with this important point, I observed that
necessarily the permanent improvements suggested would involve a
considerable outlay, but this, I said, might, by arrangement, when
necessary, be spread over a number of years, especially if the work
could be carried out by the Sanitary Authority. 'But it may be
suggested that the class of property, regarded as a source of income, is
so "bad" that it could not bear the burden. This is too commonly taken
for granted, and I am confident that, if enquiry were made, it would be
found that these houses "pay," not only those who take them with a view
of making a livelihood by letting lodgings, but also the present owners
who get what, in these days, may be considered a good return for their
investments, which, for the most part, have been made on advantageous
terms. One case may serve as an illustration. It is that of an eightroomed
house in the "bad" part of St. Katharine's Road, for which the
"tenant," who is non-resident, pays fifteen shillings and sixpence per
week = £40 (is. per annum. The several rooms are let "furnished," after
a fashion, and when occupied, as is usually the case, they are let nightly,
to the same persons as a rule, and bring in thirty-five shillings a week,
or at the rate of £91 per annum. Now, making all deductions for bad
debts (if any), wear and tear of "furniture," &c., I think it is reasonable
to assume that out of the £51 difference between the owner's rent and
the tenant's bikings, the tenant clears at least ten shillings a week, or
£26 per annum. I may mention, in passing, that the "keeper" of this
house rents other houses in the district (some persons are reported to
hive as many as ten houses), and lets them on similar terms. Now, as
to the owner. It appears that he acquired the house ten years ago for
£185, the ground rent being £5. The estimated rates and taxes
amount to £7, the repairs to (say) £10. These charges, and the ground
rent, absorb £22, leaving a profit of £18 6s., or nearly ten per cent. per
annum; not a bad return, in these days.'