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We are also in communication with the Home Office concerning the need of adequate and proper accommodation
for transmigrants during their stay in London, as the Council's inspectors have found that in a great number
of instances the persons who receive such transmigrants provide accommodation at houses totally unfitted for the
purpose, both as regards the sleeping arrangements and sanitary conveniences. We are also directing our attention
to the character of the temporary arrangements made for transmigrants when taken across London from the place of
landing to the railway station, and in this connection we find that in a recent case 176 transmigrants from Libau were
landed at a wharf on the Thames at about 1 o'clock p.m., and were temporarily accommodated in a shed under conditions
of overcrowding. The shed was badly lighted and ventilated, and no sanitary appliances were provided, while
the only water for drinking purposes was inadequate in quantity, and was supplied in two very dirty pails. About
5| hours after landing, during which time they received no food, the transmigrants were transferred to one of the large
railway termini in London, where, until the departure at 12.20 a.m. of the train, they were housed in a waiting-room,
where inadequate arrangements were made for gaining access to water supply or for the use of sanitary conveniences
leading to gross nuisance.
We have notified the above facts to the sanitary authorities in whose districts the wharf and railway station
are situated with a view to their taking action to remedy the conditions referred to.
18th December, 1906.
On 31st July, 1906 (p. 602), we reported on the inadequate sanitary arrangements made at one of the large
railway termini in London for the accommodation of transmigrants pending their departure by train to their port of
embarkation. We have been in communication with the sanitary authority of the district in which the terminus in
question is situate, and are glad to be able to report that the railway company contemplate the provision of special
waiting rooms in which to accommodate transmigrants, and that these waiting rooms will be constructed with due
regard to the needs of the transmigrants as regards sanitary conveniences and cooking facilities. An inspection
of the station was recently made, when it was found that the accommodation for the transmigrants was materially
improved.
Houses let in Lodgings.
In previous reports I have referred to the fact that in certain districts new by-laws relating to
houses let in lodgings have been made, amendment of previous by-laws having become necessary owing
to the decision of the High Court on 3rd February, 1904, in the cases of Stiles v. Galinski, and Nokes
and Nokes v. the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of Islington.
In these two cases, which were the result of actions taken under the by-laws against landlords
of lodging houses, for not causing every part of the lodging house premises to be cleansed in the first
week of April, the Lord Chief Justice decided that the by-laws were bad, inasmuch as they did not
provide that the persons who were responsible for seeing that such cleansing was done should receive
the necessary notice.

With regard to the other districts the facts may be thus stated:—Hampstead, an additional by-law
to cover the points in question was approved in June, 1905 ; Shoreditch, the by-laws were amended in
August, 1905; Bethnal Green and Holbom, the existing by-laws, confirmed in January, 1895, and
August, 1903, respectively, are stated not to be affected by the decision; Chelsea, no action has been
taken, though the existing by-laws date from October, 1868; Lambeth, the by-laws were confirmed in
May, 1897, and I am informed that there is no suggestion as to their amendment at present. St.
Pancras and Woolwich, the question of framing new by-laws in place of those confirmed in November,
1893, and November, 1895, respectively, was under consideration ; Lewisham, it was proposed to draft
new by-laws in 1904, but I understand that the by-laws of 1895 are still in force, and that there is no
present intention of replacing them by new by-laws.
The number of houses on the register of the several sanitary authorities at the end of 1906 and
other particulars are shown in the following table :—