View report page

63
but should apply to the Local Government Board to put in force the provisions of section 101 in order
to compel the vestry to make valid by-laws, or to appoint the Council to perform such duty. We
accordingly recommend—
That the Council do make complaint to the Local Government Board under section 101 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, with a view to the Board putting in force the provisions of that
section in order to compel the Vestry of Bethnal-green to make valid by-laws as to houses let in
lodgings, or to appoint the Council to perform such duty.
The recommendation of the Committee was adopted.
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—
Paddington—Progress was made in the registration of houses let in lodgings, an assistant
inspector having been appointed for this purpose in February, 1899. A large number of houses were
visited, and 267 notices to furnish information were issued. As many as 1,886 rooms were measured
up, and their cubic contents calculated. During the latter nine months of the year 210 houses were
registered, the total number of houses on the register at the end of the year being 406. Dr. Reginald
Dudfield states that, " practically all the houses in Clarendon, Cirencester, Woodchester and
Desborough streets have been measured up and a very large amount of work done there to bring the
houses up to the comparatively low standard of the by-laws. The closet accommodation has been
very nearly doubled, and a useful amount of white-washing and cleansing carried out."
The question of the rent limits prescribed by the by-laws was under consideration. Under the
existing by-laws, tenements of which the rental is 5s. per room unfurnished, and 7s. 6d. per room
furnished or upwards, are exempted from the by-laws. The vestry proposed that in the case of the
occupancy of a single room, such room should be exempted if let unfurnished at 4s. 6d. and upwards,
and if let furnished at 6s. and upwards, and tenements of two or more rooms should be exempted if
let unfurnished at 7s. 6d. and upwards, or furnished at 10s. and upwards. The decision of the Local
Government Board was awaited.
Dr. Dudfield writes that "The whole work done with reference to tenement houses has had, so
far as a general survey of the streets on the register is concerned, an excellent effect."
Kensington—In this district new by-laws are awaiting confirmation by the Local Government
Board. Among these proposed by-laws is one requiring the keeper of a house let in furnished lodgings
to keep the bedding and other articles free from noxious insects. Forty-eight houses were registered
during 1899, and the total number of houses on the register was 1,681. Dr. T. Orme Dudfield, in
discussing the results obtained by the application of these measures for maintaining tenement
houses in a wholesome condition, writes—
Whilst facilitating the work of the Public Health department, registration of houses let in lodgings
has given rise to none of the evils feared by the owners and occupiers of houses proposed to be registered;
the by-laws, moreover, have worked smoothly and practically without objection by any of the parties
affected by them. The extension of the operation of by-laws to all tenemented houses, and other houses
occupied in lodgings by the poorer classeB, would, with an adequate inspecting staS and systematic
inspection at frequent intervals, be an unmixed benefit from the public 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—The medical officer of health states that the Public Health Committee gave
directions for 72 houses let in lodgings to be registered, but that " owing to pressure of other work in
the department, it was found not to be possible to inspect the premises that were registered. 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."
The insufficiency of the staff of sanitary inspectors was stated in a special report which Dr.
Collier presented to the vestry during the year, a copy of which was duly forwarded to the London
County Council. The Council addressed a letter to the vestry asking whether an additional inspector
had been appointed by the vestry in accordance with his recommendation. The letter of the Council
was referred to the Public Health Committee of the vestry, who presented to the vestry a report on the
subject. This report, which was adopted by the vestry, discusses the duties of the inspectors, and
makes certain recommendation and concludes with this statement " that in view of the London
municipalities coming into operation in November next, and the overhauling of the staff consequent
thereupon, we do not consider it advisable at the present time to appoint an additional inspector."
Fulham—There were 329 houses on the register in 1899 with, the medical officer of health says,
beneficial results. " The definition, however, of the term ' landlord' in the by-laws has given rise to
difficulties, as a weekly tenant who sublets some of his rooms is the ' landlord' within the meaning of
these, and not the ' owner,' who consequently has in some cases repudiated all responsibility for the
observance of the by-laws. It is moreover advisable that the rent limit, viz., 6s. for unfurnished rooms,
should be raised."
St. George, Hanover-square—The number of houses registered during the year was 22, making
153 in all on the register. These were inspected, and the regulations as to cleansing complied with.
Westminster—All the houses on the register have been inspected. The owner of three houses
was fined £9 for failing to comply with notices relating to cleansing. Proceedings were also instituted
in one other case.
St. James, Westminster—The medical officer of health states that " Tenement houses about
which any difficulty occurs as to their sanitary condition are registered so as to be kept under efficient
control."
Marylebone—A table in the annual report of the medical officer of health shows that in this
district there were 1,077 inspections of registered houses.
Hampstead—A table in the annual report of the medical officer of health shows that 840
registered houses were regularly inspected.
St. Pancras—The number of registered houses at the end of the jear was 293.