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in such boroughs. The number of applicants recommended by the several metropolitan
borough councils during 1925 was 1,698. Of these, 595 were accommodated
on the Council's estates; 156 were offered accommodation which was refused; 368
were refused accommodation as being unsuitable; and 579 were still awaiting the
offer of accommodation at the end of the year. Besides these persons preferentially
treated on the recommendation of the borough councils, 925 persons from the various
boroughs were accommodated preferentially on account of special hardship..
Workmen s
trains, etc.
The Council's action in earlier years with regard to workmen's trains at cheap
fares was dealt with in the Annual Report for 1920 (Vol. I., p. 77). In the Annual'
Report for 1923 (Vol. III., pp. 139-40) particulars are given of the proceedings
before the Railways Rates Tribunal at which representations were made by the
Council on the subject of the charges to be made for workmen's fares and season
tickets on London railways. During 1924 schedules of the standard charges proposed
to be made by the companies in respect of the conveyance of passengers and
goods were submitted to the Tribunal and formal objections to the proposals were
lodged on behalf of the Council (Annual Report for 1924, Vol. III., p. 153). As a
result of the Council's representations, the Railway Companies submitted forms of
schedules of charges for workmen's fares and season tickets. The Council secured an
amendment of the schedules submitted by the companies in regard to workmen's
fares with the result that the schedules were approved by the Tribunal in such a form
as to enable it at the proper time to consider the Council's suggestions in regard to
the fixation of the actual tares to be charged..
After the form of schedules had been settled the Tribunal proceeded to ascertain
the standard revenue of the companies in 1913, and the next stage of the inquiry,
which was commenced on 5th October, 1925, was to determine the estimates of
railway working expenses after the fares and charges to be fixed by the Tribunal
shall have come into operation. The allocation of the gross revenues to be
raised as between passenger and goods traffic will then have to be determined
and subsequently the schedules of the standard charges. The Council is represented
by counsel at the inquiry which at the end of the year was still proceeding.
CHAPTER VI.
ACCOUNTS AND STATISTICS.
Memorandum by the Comptroller of the Council (Mr. C. D. Johnson) on the
Housing Accounts for the Year Ending 31st March, 1926.
These accounts are prepared, subject to audit, in advance of the annual abstract
of the Council's accounts, for the financial year ending 31st March, 1926. They
contain provisional figures, mainly in respect of deficiencies on the schemes of metropolitan
borough councils, which will be subject to adjustment.
The accounts show the financial results of the Council's operations under the
Housing Act, 1925 (clearance of unhealthy areas and rehousing under Part II, and
housing under Part III of that Act), and of rehousing under various street improvement,
etc., Acts. They are divided into four sections, distinguishing the nonassisted
schemes from the assisted schemes covered by the subsidy provisions of
the Housing Acts of 1919, 1923 and 1924, respectively. Each of the first three
sections is further sub-divided between clearance schemes and dwellings.
The "Clearance schemes" sub-sections of the accounts cover only the acquisition
and clearance of unhealthy areas. The "Dwellings" sub-sections deal with the
dwellings both for rehousing and for housing on estates under Part III.