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the day population of Woolwich shows a density of about 18 and of Lewisham 20.
The highest densities outside the City are recorded in Finsbury and Holborn,
namely, about 240 in each place. These facts again increase the importance of the
City density inasmuch as the next largest densities actually border on the City
area and ultimately the City will be surrounded by these areas of high density with
the consequences of added supervisory responsibilities. The nearest total day
population recorded in the metropolis is the City of Westminster with 374,102,
but the area available for the accommodation of this number is such that the average
density only amounts to about 150 persons to the acre.
HOUSES FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.—I recently submitted to the
Sanitary Committee a report dealing with certain matters affecting the houses
occupied by the working classes. This report, and the recommendations contained
therein, is at the present moment receiving the consideration of that Committee,
but attention is directed to the following facts :—
(a) The Hutchison Street Area.—The Corporation will recollect that in
May, 1919, the area known as the Hutchison Street Area was represented by the
Medical Officer of Health as being insanitary. After Government enquiry this
representation was approved and the area officially declared an insanitary area.
I directed attention to the fact that within the area there were a certain number of
houses which in themselves were unfit for human habitation. This is a different
point from the assertion that the area owing to the closeness and narrowness of
the streets, etc., and the interaction of one house upon another is insanitary as a
whole.
I pointed out that conditions in the area could be materially improved if the
houses which in themselves were unfit for human habitation were removed together
with other obstructive buildings. The houses coming within the former category
include Nos. 1—20, Providence Place, 1—10, Garden Place and 3, 4 and 5, Hutchison
Avenue. In the latter group I also include Nos. 20 to 26, Hutchison Avenue,
of which No. 26 is now empty. This represents a total of 38 houses in occupation
and one empty, in the former of which there were residing at the time of
the representation 200 persons.
The Sanitary Committee have already considered the advisability of erecting,
on part of the area, a block of dwellings, comprising 28 four-room tenements and
four three-room tenements. It should be noted that in the erection of these tenements
certain property will require to be demolished to make room for the new
tenements, and a large proportion of these new tenements will in consequence be
occupied by the tenants displaced. It is important to note that the houses which
will require to be first demolished to make room for these new tenements are by
no means the worst, and that the demolitions will not affect the 38 inherently
defective houses above referred to.
(b) The Vine Street Area.—The Corporation will further recollect that in
November, 1921, the Vine Street Area was also represented as being insanitary.
This area consisted of seven houses in which were 72 persons. Each house in this
area, in my opinion, was practically unfit for human habitation in the then condition.
At the present time three of the houses are unoccupied, but some 60 persons
continue in residence in those remaining. In spite of all endeavours it has
been found impossible to discover alternative accommodation for the occupants.
(c) Other Houses in the City.—At the present time from 30 to 40 other
houses exist which can hardly be regarded as fit for human habitation, a similar
number are arriving at a state of unfitness and many houses exist which when the
restrictions are removed will probably be sold. Their ultimate fate will be demolition
and on the site commercial premises will be erected. Nearly all the houses
regarded as unfit, and many of the remainder, exist as single houses or as small
groups of two or three forming part of a court, or in groups of eight
or ten forming a complete court. A few are for the use of one family
but generally they are sub-let in tenements, and the latter type of house being
essentially converted houses do not possess satisfactory amenities for the residents
on the upper floors. They represent mainly the remnants of court property which
were left in the wholesale clearances of 30 or 40 years ago, and these have now
reached that worn out state which hardly justifies expenditure on repair. Further,