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XI
covered only took two months. In most other metropolitan boroughs the work of
measuring rooms in working class dwellings for the purpose of enforcing the provisions
of the Act of 1935 has yet to be done. In Westminster that had been all but completed
in the first detailed survey before the Overcrowding Bill became law. Any
left over, such as rooms in block industrial dwellings, were measured in the early
part of the present year.
These surveys have revealed the remarkable improvement in housing which has
taken place during the past ten years. Old and decaying houses to the number of
420 have vanished from the scene ; others are doomed to follow suit. In this decade
1,265 new flats for City workers have been completed and an equal number of
families have been rehoused in vastly improved conditions. Perhaps the most
gratifying feature is the improvement in basement dwellings. The policy of rehousing
basement families, thus enabling alterations t j the structure to be carried out by the
owners, is one of the most important ever adopted by the City Council. Thereby
dampness is being eradicated, and better access to daylight and air is being provided.
Permanent closing of basements is not desirable in most cases. Closed and
derelict basement rooms may be a source of nuisance. They deprive the owner of
part of his income and sterilize part of his property. Almost every owner of basement
rooms declared by the Council to be unfit has the opportunity of improving
the value of his property if prepared to undertake the expenditure. In some cases
this may be considerable. The worse the basement, the more comprehensive and
costly is the remedial work likely to be. No closing order is ever absolute. The
law decrees that every owner may recondition his property, but the local authority
must be satisfied as to fitness for human habitation before a closing order is determined.
On the other hand if the owner does not feel justified in undertaking any
expenditure to render fit again the closing order remains in force. Another alternative
is use of the premises for other purposes than human habitation. The
Council may approve such use by formal undertaking given by the owner. If a
closing order has been made it remains in force as regards human habitation.
Staff.
During the past three years because of the surveys and other housing work the
staff had to be increased by the addition of six temporary sanitary inspectors and
eight temporary clerks. But the coming into force of the Shops Act, 1934, and the
Pharmacy and Poisons Act have further greatly added to the duties of the department.
Now that both surveys are completed the tasks which lie ahead are taking
more definite shape. The special housing staff, mostly composed of temporary
members, has undergone several changes during those three years. Individuals
leave on obtaining permanent posts elsewhere. These changes are a handicap
because housing work, particularly as regards basements, requires continuity. This
and the enforcement of the new overcrowding provisions which become operable on
1st January, 1937, call for a more permanently constituted housing staff. Because
of these and other increasing duties some further reorganization will be necessary.
Both housing surveys were carried through remarkably smoothly and expeditiously
and each in itself was as onerous as it was extensive. The detailed responsibility
in each case fell primarily on Mr. H. E. White, whom the Council designated Housing
Inspector, and on Mr. J. W. Anderson, in immediate charge of temporary housing
clerks. While all the staff worked wholeheartedly, special tribute is due to those
mentioned for the success achieved in these surveys.
Mr. Lowe, Vaccination Officer, retired on 31st March on reaching the age of 60
years. He had prior to the transfer of vaccination duties to the City Council held