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53
The persons who would be hardly hit by the repeal of the Acts are
those paying rents at the other end of the scale, and withdrawal of protection
would force many of such persons to seek for lower rented
premises and would thereby cause greater pressure on those inhabiting
less highly rented premises. If the Acts are repealed or if protection is
withdrawn from any class provision should be made whereby machinery
may be set up whereby fair rents may be settled, which would remove
the object which landlords have in view in many cases where they might
desire to evict the existing tenant.
New Peabody Buildings.—Nine blocks of these new buildings in Great
Peter Street were completed and opened during the year. They afford
accommodation for 95 families. Most of these were transferred from the
Peabody Buildings in Buckingham Gate, the remainder being former
residents in other of the Peabody Buildings in Westminster who were in
need of additional accommodation. The building of other blocks is held
up as the Trustees are unable to obtain possession of the site. The
Buckingham Gate dwellings have been sold, and it is from the proceeds
of this sale that the Peabody Trust has been able to erect the new
dwellings. Those in Buckingham Gate were reported on by me as far
back as November, 1911, when I pointed out that many of the rooms
were unsatisfactory and very dark and without means of through
ventilation. The death.rate for the previous ten years was five points
above the average of other Peabody dwellings in "Westminster. Some
reconstruction was possible and was carried out as a temporary measure,
but the Trustees agreed with my suggestion that it was desirable to dispose
of these buildings with a view to the erection of better designed ones elsewhere.
It was only after prolonged negotiations that the site in Great
Peter Street became available and, unfortunately, it came at a time when
it was most difficult to deal with the matter. When completed it will
have effected a great improvement not only as regards the buildings themselves
but also in the removal of a black spot from the city.
The City Council's scheme for the erection of new dwellings, which I
mentioned last year, has not yet been started, various complications having
occurred, but it is hoped that they will be put in hand at an early date.
During the year the cost of building has fallen so that it will be possible
to provide an additional number of tenements to that originally proposed
without additional cost.
A form required by the Ministry is appended.
Special inspections were made during the year of houses in the following
streets : Ross Street and Place, Union Street, Medway Street, Hudson's
Terrace, Richard's Cottages, Westminster Buildings, Ponsonby Place,
Page Street, Percy Cottages, Phillip's Terrace, Kinnerton Street and