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58
they would all derive benefit by living in a County Council house in the
suburb where his work was situated. There ?s much of a constructive
nature that those who are interested in housing might do—for example,
advice could be given in a case such as the one cited. Much good could
be done by spreading information among the people as to how to keep
their homes clean and maintain them in good order. Miss Octavia Hill,
Some years ago, practised this form of propaganda with very beneficial
results.
In the annual report of 1922 there was mention of special inspections
having been made in respect of houses in certain streets. Many of those
houses were old cottages which had fallen into considerable disrepair.
In order that the inspections should be undertaken on a more extensive
scale, and the work of repair and renovation of similar properties in other
areas proceeded with as speedily as possible, the Council appointed an
additional sanitary inspector, who took up his duties in May. The Victoria
Ward, in which are housed almost a third of the total private families
living in the City was considered to be requiring closer sanitary supervision.
The fall in population in this ward between the Census of 1911
and 1921 amounted only to 1 per cent. In the same period the population
of the Strand, Covent Garden and Charing Cross Wards has fallen 30 per
cent. Two inspectors were allocated to the former area where previously
there was one. This has resulted in very satisfactory progress in the
improvement of the sanitary conditions of the houses of this district, many
of which are let in lodgings. The majority are large houses, probably at
one time each was entirely occupied by one family: now they are let in
floors or in rooms, furnished and unfurnished. They are structuralfy
sound, but the internal fittings, woodwork, etc., in many are worn out,
and require frequent repairs. Nearly all contain basements, only a small
proportion of which are let separately from the ground floor, and in all
cases the back rooms are not underground, but open at the level of the
back yard. In several instances of overcrowding, difficulties were due to
families having grown up while house space had not increased. Rooms
which the young adults of working age could use for sleeping purposes
were found in the neighbourhood and this alleviated the situation. In a
few instances it was found that the presence of a lodger caused the other
rooms to be overcrowded. The removal of the lodger put an end to
the overcrowding.
The more apparent defects in the housing accommodation of the City
are to be seen among the groups of old cottages which still remain in
various parts. Their faults are easily appreciated by the interested
spectator, because the whole structure including the roof, can usually