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79
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
occurred on the vessel; a larger number was without suitable clothing. Medical aid was subsequently provided by
the shipping company for the women in a common lodging-house used especially for transmigrants, and clothes were
provided for both sexes by the Jews' Temporary Shelter authorities, the Salvation Army, the Willow-street Mission,
and the Sailors' Home. There was at first considerable overcrowding both by night and day, but this was remedied
to a considerable extent, although it is difficult to prevent crowding of the day rooms. In the present emergency
the Council's inspectors have made every effort to assist in placing transmigrants in suitable houses, and it will be
necessary to devote special attention to this work for some time to come. Of the transmigrants thus dealt with only
about 10 per cent. were Jews,
We should state that the Council has no responsibility in this matter of providing accommodation but we had
previously pointed out to the Home Secretary the objection to the course which was formerly adopted by the
shipping agents of accommodating the transmigrants in tenement houses in Whitechapel. As a result of this representation,
It was arranged that these persons should be received into certain common lodging-houses specially set
aside for this purpose. This accommodation sufficed when the number of transmigrants arriving in London was
small, but has entirely failed in respect of the large number now brought over and for whom practically no provision
was made. We consider that the attention of the Secretary of State should be called to the matter, as he has power,
under the Aliens Act, to require shipping companies to give security that transmigrants will be properly maintained
and controlled during their transit. We recommend:—
That in the opinion of the Council the unsatisfactory conditions obtaining in London with regard to
transmigrants are such as to require provision of a permanent character for the accommodation of such persons
whilst in London ; that the attention of the Secretary of State be called to the facts, and that he be urged to
require such permanent provision.
The recommendation of the Committee was adopted by the Council.
Houses let in lodgings.
In London there were approximately 24,500 houses let in lodgings subject to regulation by by-laws
made under section 94 of the Public Health (London) Act. These houses are (apart from those which are
common lodging-houses) occupied by the poorest class of the London population and the special powers
which are given by that section for their maintenance in clean and wholesome condition are the
most valuable of any which can be exercised by local authorities for this purpose.

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(a) No register is now kept, under the Islington Borough Council's by-laws, but the number of houses
let in lodgings subject to inspection during the year was 1,009.
(b) For overcrowding. (c) For other conditions.