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63
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
keep the cisterns in these houses full, and the consequence was,
that although the cisterns filled during the night, there was not
a sufficient supply to last a household during the day. This fact
was communicated to the Water Company,
Housing of the Working Classes.
The question of Housing of the Working Classes has been
under the consideration of the Council during the year.
The Medical Officers of Health of the sub-districts were
required to report with reference to house accommodation and
overcrowding, and the following are copies of these reports:—
Clapham.—The Medical Officer of Health reported that there is a
large working class population and the difficulty in obtaining
suitable houses is considerable, such houses being
rarely or never empty, and occupied almost before building
is finished.
During 1900, 230 single room tenements were inspected
in which were living 325 adults and 70 children
under 12 years of age. In nearly all instances where more
than one person occupied a room they were husband and
wife and child. There was no overcrowding. Such cases
of overcrowding have occurred in the Parish have
been easily dealt with under the Public Health Act. A
great deal of old property exists in Clapham, and this
has been constapdy inspected and necessary repairs
executed, and much has been done to improve the ventilation,
and many cases of back-to-back houses have been
dealt with. Rents vary from 10s. to 17s. per week for 6
rooms, 9s. to 10s. 6d. for 4 rooms, 4s. 6d. to 12s. for 3
rooms, 4s. 6d. to 6s. for 2 rooms, 2s. 6d. to 4s. for single
rooms.
The greatest demand is for three-roomed tenements,
and mo.i of these come between the limits of 7s. 6d. and
10s. 6d. per week. If it were possible to obtain three
decent rooms for about 5s. per week it would be a great
boon to the poor worker.