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98
Crowding which arc discovered. During the year 18 families comprising 97 persons who wree
living in 24 rooms have been found accommodation in County Council dwellings.
In connection with all these cases, the owner of the premises where the overcrowding
had occurred is communicated with—drawing his attention to the fact that the overcrowding
had been abated, and requesting his co-operation in preventing any recurrence of this
condition.
The shortage of houses still constitutes the most serious public health problem in St.
Pancras. During the year the efforts of the Council's staff have been concentrated in keeping
existing houses in as satisfactory a condition as possible. In this connection a number of
inspections have been made and notices served under the new Housing Act, 1925, which came
into force on 1st July, 1925.
It is a matter for regret that progress in the provision of working-class houses is so
slow. Overcrowding is very prevalent, and this not only facilitates the spread of infectious
disease and constitutes a menace to health, but it is also deleterious for other obvious reasons
not associated with public health. It is significant that the illegitimate birth rate is gradually
rising, a slight but steady increase having occurred during each of the past 5 years.
HOUSING ACT, 1925.
Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925.
The above Act, which came into force on July 1st, 1925, consolidates previous
enactments relating to the Housing of the Working Classes. Provision is made for securing
the repair, maintenance and sanitary condition of houses, including power of Local
Authorities to do any necessary work if the owner defaults, and the cost of such work can be
made a charge on the premises.
Power is provided by Section 6 to make by-laws for tenement houses, the Authority for
this purpose in London being the London County Council. By-laws under this Section have
been made and will come into force on 5th March, 1926.
The Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925, made by the Minister of Health in
pursuance of powers conferred on him by the Housing Act, 1925, came into force on
1st September, 1925. These require the Local Authority to determine the procedure to be
adopted to give effect to the requirements of Section 8 of the Act in regard to the inspection
of their district. In this connection Mr. H. G. West, a fully-qualified sanitary inspector,
who was previously in the service of the Council in this capacity, was appointed temporarily.
Mr. West had been employed as milk inquiry officer, but this duty is now being performed by
the women sanitary inspectors. By appointing an additional district sanitary inspector
(making the number 12 instead of 11), the Borough is now divided into slightly smaller
areas, and each inspector in his own area is carrying out the inspections required by the Act.
Records of the inspections have to be kept, and the Medical Officer of Health must
include in his Annual Report information and particulars in regard to the houses inspected.
The following table gives the Housing statistics for the year ended 31st December,
1925 :—
Number of new houses erected during the year:—
(a) Total (including number given separately under (b)) 62 houses and 89 flats
(b) With State assistance under the Housing Acts: —
(i) By the Local Authority Nil.
(ii) By other bodies or persons Nil.