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10
In the census year 1911, there were 1,308 unoccupied houses and shops
in a total of 14,213, and 1,568 flats in a total of 10,631. Half of the
empty houses are in the Grosvenor, Knightsbridge St. George and the
Hamlet Wards.
The Local Government Board has pointed out to local authorities
that it is recogniscd that for some time after the end of the war many
difficulties which have brought the building of houses for the working
classes almost to a standstill will continue to prevail, and that throughout
the period of the war there will be an increasing arrear of such building.
The question of the provision of these houses appears to the Board
to be one of the most pressing of post-war problems for which immediate
preparation should be made, and realising that private enterprise will
be quite unable to grapple successfully and speedily with this arrear,
the conclusion has been arrived at that for the years immediately following
the war it will be necessary to rely far more than in the past upon local
authorities to provide the houses required, with their road, water, and
drainage accompaniments.
In Westminster, the question of providing houses for the working
classes has been considered in' the past, and the conclusion come to was
that the only class of building which existing conditions^ would permit
was blocks of flats. Four such blocks were erected by the Council, and
a scheme has been formulated for the erection of others on the site of
the old workhouse in Poland Street, at present used for War refugees.
The Council found that it was necessary for a number of people, such
as these employed late at night and early in the morning, to live in the
vicinity of the places in which they work, and they, therefore, thought
it desirable to provide accommodation for such people. For a large
number, they were of opinion that it would be better if they lived in the
suburbs. Many persons object to tenement houses and to blocks of flats,
and would prefer a cottage with a garden out of London, but the time
occupied in the journey to and from work, and the expense entailed,
prevent them availing themselves of better accommodation at a rent
lower or not more than they pay for two or three rooms in Westminster.
At present, suitable cottages in the suburbs, or in the outlying Metropolitan
boroughs are not to be obtained, but, doubtless, such will be provided
as soon as the War terminates. At the same time, it will be necessary
to provide better facilities for reaching them.
A considerable number of houses, especially in the Victoria Ward,
which were originally built for occupation by a single family, have now
a family on each floor, or are boarding houses. It would not be