View report page

69
would only avail themselves of more accommodation under compulsion, and in the
absence of any controlling power the natural tendency of pressure towards the centre
would continue to create overcrowding. Under existing conditions, in which the
growth of London has outstripped the growth of means of communication, and in
which the devotion to business purposes of space previously occupied by dwellings has reduced the
amount of accommodation previously at the disposal of the poorer members of the community,
the absence of control of overcrowding becomes a distinct danger and no doubt a source of profit
to those who cater for the class most needing the supervision of the sanitary authority. That notwithstanding
this pressure towards the centre and in the absence of proper means of communication
and of ample house accommodation for the poor, it is possible to enforce, and to successfully
enforce, by-laws for houses let in lodgings, is proved by the experience of those London districts
in which serious effort has been made for this purpose.
During 1898 the Public Health Committee made further enquiry as to the extent to which
sanitary authorities were enforcing by-laws, and the Council again had under consideration the
action of the Vestry of Bethnal-green who declined to give effect in their district to the provisions
of the 94th section of the Public Health Act. The Council has made official representation to the
Local Government Board of this neglect, and the question still remains undetermined whether,
under the circumstances of a by-law intended to give to the vestry a discretionary power as to
which houses should be registered, the Local Government Board is able to take any further step
in connection ith neglect to register any houses at all. Of the difficulties which have been met
with, perhaps the most serious is in connection with the definition of the term " landlord." This
definition appears in some districts to give opportunity for the owner to shift his responsibility
to a weekly tenant, who thus becomes the " landlord " for the purposes of the by-law, and who
has no means at his disposal to maintain proper conditions within the dwelling-house. This
subject is referred to in the reports relating to Hackney, Camberwell, and Clapham. The need
for registration of many tenements in so-called " model" or " block " dwellings is pointed out by
the medical officers of health of Whitechapel and St. George-the-Martyr.
The subject of the regulation of houses let in lodgings is referred to in the annual reports
of the medical officers of health of the following districts. I am unable to concur with some of the
views expressed.
Paddington—A temporary inspector for the regulation of tenement-houses was appointed in
1897, and the work interrupted in 1898 owing to the officer having obtained a permanent appointment
in another district. No other appointment has been made. Referring to the work which was
done, the medical officer of health writes—" The white-washing and cleansing done in these
houses in the spring has, without doubt, had a good effect. The streets have been freer from
infectious diseases than they have been for several years. Many of the landlords of houses in these
streets have expressed their approval of the work of registration, and application for registration
has been made to the department in a few instances by landlords of houses in other streets.
Kensington—The medical officer of health reports that the Vestry of Kensington had prepared
by-laws under the Public Health Act of 1891 in substitution for regulations in force in the
district, and made under the Acts of 18G6 and 1874. One of the draft by-laws proposed that the
keeper of a registered house should be required to give notice of overcrowding, and another that
the keeper of a registered house let in furnished lodgings should be required to maintain the
bedding and other articles in the rooms in a clean and wholesome condition, and free from
noxious insects. The by-laws have not yet been confirmed. A return published in 1896 showed
that 1,543 houses were registered. The work of registration has been continued only in the Notting
Dale district. On the operation of the regulations the medical officer writes— " I think it right to
state that registration, whilst facilitating the work of the department, has given rise to none of
the evils feared by the owners and occupiers of houses proposed to be registered, and that the
existing by-laws, made in 1885, have worked smoothly and practically without objection by any of
the parties affected by them, and that the extension of the operation of by-laws to all tenemented
and other houses occupied in lodgings by the poorer classes, would, with an adequate inspecting
staff, be an unmixed benefit, from the health point of view, by enabling the sanitary authority
to maintain the conditions necessary to secure healthy homes for the people who, in regard to
such matters, have little power to help themselves."
Hammersmith—During the year 218 houses were registered, making a total of 404 on the
register. In 1897 the medical officer of health recommended that the registered premises should be
inspected once in each quarter, but the Public Health Committee of the vestry decided not to
adopt his advice. He writes—"On July 11th, 1898, in consequence of a communication from the
London County Council, your committee had the question again under consideration, when it was
decided to instruct the district inspectors to visit and report as far as they were able, on the
condition of the registered premises at each meeting of the committee. Since that order was
given, with only one exception, your inspectors have reported that pressure of other duties has
prevented them from visiting and reporting upon any of the registered premises. If this work is
to be carried out, and there can be no doubt it ought to be, it is absolutely necessary to appoint
another inspector for the purpose."
Fulhnm—The vestry appointed a special sanitary inspector to enforce the by-laws, and 180
houses have since been registered.
St. George, Hanover-square—" There are 131 registered houses let in lodgings. They have
been inspected and the regulations as to cleansing complied with."
Westminster—About 1,250 houses are now registered. The medical officer of health discusses
the advantages attending the application of the by-laws, and he states—" Used with discretion the
by-laws have no tendency to depreciate the value of property, for where cleanly persons occupy the
houses as landlords, the conditions obtainable under them are procured by the responsible persons