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The returns received under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1924, from the medical officers of health of the metropolitan boroughs show that
there were 31,008 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (17,478 males and 13,530 females)
and 11,879 cases of other forms of tuberculosis (6,211 males and 5,668 females) on
the registers of the metropolitan boroughs at the end of 1930.
Administration.
The supervision of the 152 common lodging houses licensed by the Council
under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902, entailed 6,953 day
visits and 182 night visits by the inspectors. The supervision of the 22 seamen's
lodging houses licensed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, entailed 629 visits
by day and 30 by night.
Common and
seamen's
lodging
houses.
Early in the last century it was increasingly felt that the men of the mercantile
marine, not only needed protection afloat, but also ashore against the unscrupulous
boarding house master, the crimp and the harpy. At first the protection developed
along the lines of private enterprise, and in 1835 the Sailors' Home in Well-street
was founded. This institution, much enlarged and brought up to date, still carries
on a valuable work with its 220 beds and its manifold activities. A little later the
position of the coloured man came to the front. Large numbers were landed in the
port and not being re-shipped were found wandering about begging, many ultimately
becoming chargeable to the guardians. To meet their needs the Asiatic Home in
the West India Dock-road was opened in 1854. This, too, with its accommodation
for 170, is still in existence, and is largely frequented by Lascars. Other nationalities
were eventually catered for by the German Sailors' Home, and the Scandinavian
Home.
Formerly, the English sailer was to be found in the so-called boarding houses,
of which there were large numbers in the streets and alleys adjoining the docks.
Many drifted into common lodging houses, whilst others frequented small public
houses and beerhouses, some of which provided dancing halls. Here his associates
included thieves and prostitutes and before long the seaman generally found himself
without money or belongings. Left destitute his only hope was the crimp, who found
him a ship and some clothes, receiving in exchange an " advance note," the value
of which was very considerably in excess of the services rendered. These scandals
were brought to the notice of the Board of Trade and, in the consolidation of the
Merchant Seamen's Acts by the Act of 1894, a group of sections under the heading
"Protection of Seamen from Imposition " was included. Of these, section 214 gives
certain local authorities, whose district includes a seaport, power to make by-laws
for regulating seamen's lodging houses.
In 1901, the Council, much concerned with the possibility of infection from
plague and cholera being introduced from foreign ports, issued a circular to
all known keepers of seamen's lodging houses stating that advantage had been
Seamen's
lodging
houses.—
Historical
note.