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51
(b) Shall in the second place, be the amount estimated as the
value of the dwelling house if it had been put into a
sanitary condition, or into reasonably good repair,
after deducting the estimated expense of putting it
into such condition of repair ; and
(c) Shall in the third place, be the value of the laud, and of
the materials of the buildings thereon."
The above quotation is from section 41, "Settlement of Compensation,"
in Part II. of the Act dealing with "Scheme for Reconstruction,"
(section 39), in relation to "Obstructive Buildings" (section 38): but
the principles laid down would be applicable in respect to the purchase,
under Part III,, of houses " in a state of defective sanitation,"
or "not in reasonably good repair," or the rental value of
which was enhanced "by reason of the same being used for illegal
purposes, or being so overcrowded as to be dangerous or injurious
to the health of the inmates." Under one or other of these
categories many, if not most of the houses would probably come.
Be this as it may, however, I am confident that, properly gone
about, by a properly constituted Authority or Association, with the
powers of this Act behind them, no insuperable difficulty should be
experienced in obtaining the houses at their fair market value. To
the County Council, then, as local authority under Part III.; to
your Vestry, as local authority under Part II.; and to the Jubilee
Committee, which might become a Society or Association for the
purposes of the Act (under section 67), I make appeal that the
suggestions contained in this report may receive fair consideration,
and that, if found to be practicable, effect may be given to them, so
that a grave opprobrium may be taken away from this royal parish
as a memorial of this year of Royal Jubilee.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
T. ORME DUDFIELD,
Medical Officer of Health.
To the Vestry of Kensington.