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Section 69 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, provides that no local
sewer shall be made without the approval of the Council. During 1927 the
construction or reconstruction of 192,549 feet of local sewers of-various sizes has
been sanctioned.
Local sewers.
Under section 204 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, and section 68 of
the Metropolis Management (Amendment) Act, 1862, no building or any other
encroachment may be erected in, over or under any sewer vested in the Council or
any such sewer diverted except with the Council's consent. During 1927 the Council
save its consent in 20 such cases.
Buildings,
etc., over
sewers.
A request was submitted by the Amalgamated Engineering Union on behalf of
engineers employed in the Council's main drainage service, that in view of the special
character of the service if should be recognised as distinct from other sections of the
service, and that the men in engineering trades employed therein should be paid a
minimum wage of £4 4s. a week, and that shift workers in these trades should be paid
at the rate of time-and-a-third. The men in question receive 11s. a week more in
war wages than was normally paid in outside engineering shops. They also receive
other benefits, including medical attendance, sick pay, superannuation, holidays, etc.
Mechanics employed on shift work receive special allowances amounting to 3d. an
hour or 4d. an hour at Deptford and North Woolwich pumping stations where
the Council has not provided quarters. In the circumstances it was felt that the
conditions under which the men worked did not warrant any further alteration in
rates of pay, and the request was not granted.
staff.
CHAPTER V.
HOUSING.
Prior to the passing of the Housing Act, 1925, which came into force on 1st
July, 1925, and which reproduces in a consolidated form the permanent law relating
to the housing of the working classes, the powers of the Council in this matter were
derived from the Housing Acts, 1890 to 1924. The financial provisions of the
Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, dealing
with Exchequer contributions towards the cost of the construction of houses were
not incorporated in the Act of 1925, but have been continued as separate enactments.
These Acts were passed for the purpose of encouraging building in the immediate
future, and are thus in the nature of temporary expedients. Particulars of the
provisions of these Acts are set out in the Annual Report for 1924 (vol. III., pp. 142
and 143). Apart from administrative duties, the main divisions of the Council's
housing work are (i.) the provision of new dwellings to meet the need for additional
accommodation, and (ii.) the improvement or reconstruction of unhealthy areas,
including the provision of dwellings for rehousing persons of the working classes
displaced.
Powers and
duties of the
Council.
The contributions payable by the State towards the cost of the construction of
houses, both by local authorities and private enterprise are subject to revision
every two years. Particulars of the reductions made by the Housing Acts (Revision
of Contributions) Order, 1926, in the amounts of the State grants in respect of
houses not completed before 1st October, 1927, are given in the Annual Report
for 1926 (vol. III., pp. 175-6). The next review is due to take place after 1st October,
1928.
Revision of
State
contributions.
Consequent upon the issue of the above-named Order, the Council, on
15th February, 1927, decided to reduce its rates of contribution towards the
cost of houses provided by the City Corporation and metropolitan borough councils
and by private enterprise, in corresponding proportions to the reductions in the
Revision of
scheme of
financial
assistance by
the Council,