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57
"In determining the number of rooms any applicant must take, the
sex as well as the age of the children must be considered.

"In certain of the blocks where the tenements on a floor consist of
two three-roomed and two two-roomed tenements, the above maximum
cannot be obtained, as there would be 28 persons on the floor, which
would be four in excess of the number for which w.c. accommodation is
provided; thus, the maximum number for whom accommodation can be
found on the above basis will be 2,037.
"It will be desirable at first to keep well within the above limits, so
as to save disturbing tenants whose families increase in number."
Laundry Yard.—A special report was made on the condition of the
houses in this court, but the evidence was not sufficient to justify action
under the Housing Acts. Individual houses were dealt with under the
Public Health Act.
Siddons and Stirling Buildings.—These two premises, calculated to
house 210 and 180 persons respectively, were opened by the County
Council in May and June, 1903. These adjoin the buildings already
erected in Dukes Court, and are to provide accommodation for some of
the persons displaced by the Holborn to Strand improvement.
Certificates under the Revenue Act were granted.
Housing Act, 1903.—An amending Act was passed during last
Session of Parliament extending the maxim time for the repayment of
loans; rendering it unnecessary, where a house was not reasonably
capable of being made fit for human habitation, to have to call on the
owner to make it so; giving power to recover costs of demolition of
houses ordered to be closed; giving power to local authorities to
provide, in connection with dwellings they may erect, shops or otherwise
to make provision in other ways which may be benefical to the
persons for whom the dwellings are provided. This is a provision
likely to be of considerable value in the City.