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authorities. Of these 24,085 (8,401 within the County of London) were provided
by the Council, 556 (336 within the county) by the City Corporation, 8,432 by metropolitan
borough councils, and 22,537 by local authorities in the outer London area.
Altogether 17,169 houses and flats were provided in the County of London by local
authorities. In addition, 614 tenements were added by the conversion of old houses.
A comparison of the new accommodation with the estimated increase in population,
would, by itself, indicate that the arrears accumulated during the war and
immediately after had been considerably reduced. There must, however, be taken
into consideration the factor that the ratio of increase in the number of families had
been in excess of the ratio of increase in population due to the fall in the average
size of the family. This was a very serious factor in the increase of the demand for
houses in the period 1911-21, and will still operate, though to what extent cannot
be known until a fresh census takes place. Up to the end of the year, whilst it
seemed that the pressure on accommodation had been greatly eased, there was no
reason for thinking that the shortage of working-class accommodation had been
entirely made good. The applications received daily by the Council for accommodation
showed that there were still large numbers who could not obtain the
accommodation they desired, this no doubt applying particularly to the poorer
classes.
The question of the continuance of the Rent Restrictions Acts engaged the
attention of the Council during the year. It was felt that the disadvantages attending
the continuance of the restrictions were many. On the other hand, there was
the undeniable fact that the housing shortage had not been overcome, and it was
realised that a heavy burden would be thrown on the Council as the principal housing
authority in London by the dishousing of persons which would almost certainly
take place if property were decontrolled. The Council, in the choice between two
evils, came to the conclusion that on the balance the public interest would be better
served by the continuance of the restrictions for a further period and the Govern
ment was approached by the Council in the matter. The duration of the Acts,
which were due to expire on 25th December, 1927, was extended for another
vear.
Rent
Restrictions
Acts—Continuance.
One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic
in London is referred to on p. 199 in connection with Castlenau estate. The other
recommendations of the Commission have been considered by the Council from the
housing point of view. It is, in the opinion of the Council, improbable that these
recommendations, which are practically limited to proposals for cross-river facilities,
would have a fundamental effect on the London housing problem generally, or would
do anything appreciable to establish better communication between the centres of
industry and undeveloped land in the suburbs suitable for housing purposes.
Royal
Commission
on cross-rivei
traffic in
London.
In view of the many requests for information as to the Council's housmg work
which are frequently received from Government departments and municipalities,
as well as from bodies and parties at home and abroad interested in housing questions,
the Council has decided to issue a handbook containing particulars of the Council's
housing activities up to the end of the year 1927, including particulars of schemes
undertaken by metropolitan borough councils. It has also been decided to issue
a separate folder map of Greater London with the Council's housing estates marked
thereon and particulars of the estates printed on the back. A copy of the map is
also to be included with the handbook, which will be placed on sale at the price of
2s. 6d. a copy. Both the book and the folder map will be ready for publication early
in 1928.
Housing
handbook.
The Council's action in earlier years with regard to workmen s trams at cheap
fares was dealt with in the Annual Report for 1920 (Vol. I., p. 77). In the Annual
Reports for 1923 (Vol. III., pp. 139-40), 1924 (Vol. III., p. 153), and 1926 (Vol. III.,
p. 192) particulars are given of the proceedings before the Railway Rates Tribunal
Workmen s
trains.