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HOUSING.
The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects was 70. 40 were found not to
be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation ; 22 of these were rendered fit, in 12 cases as a
result of informal action by the inspectors, and in 10 cases subsequent to the service of notices
requesting the defects to be remedied.
Before the war, though the day-time population of the City was estimated at over half-a-million,
the resident population was small, being 8,720. Apart from the occupants of the Corporation's
dwellings on the Eastern boundary of the City, some 280 families ; a few groups of old dwellinghouses,
and the staff of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, the residents were mainly caretakers of blocks of
offices and the licensees and staffs of public houses.
The blocks of dwellings all survived the " blitz," but most of the groups of old dwellings houses
and a great many caretakers' flats were destroyed. Moreover, the children of residents have grown up
during the war, married and had children of their own. Overcrowding has, therefore, developed in
the City dwellings, and though conditions were tolerated during the war, they have become intolerable
as demobilisation has proceeded.
A re-housing problem has consequently arisen which, though small in comparison with that in
many residential areas, presents special problems by reason of the difficulty of finding premises any
part of which can be converted into housing accommodation, or any space on which temporary houses
can be erected. In much of the devastated area of the City the wrecked buildings have been demolished
and rubble excavated from the basements. The levelling and consolidation of the ground in these
areas preparatory to erecting temporary dwellings would make the cost of such houses prohibitive.
The areas where the ground is level have all been considered, but it has not been possible to reach
agreement that any area is really suitable as a site for temporary dwellings. The question of the
provision of permanent housing accommodation in blocks of flats in the City is still under consideration.
Meanwhile, a Special Housing Department has been set up and every effort has been made to
find accommodation either in the City or in flats belonging to the Corporation but situated outside
the City.
By repair of damaged property, reinstatement of flats used as Wardens' Posts, requisition and
conversion of all empty properties suitable for housing, it has been possible to re-house 69 families
of whom 21 were homeless and 48 overcrowded.
There remain some 250 families who have a claim to be re-housed in the City. The provision of
temporary housing seems to be out of the question. A small number will be re-housed as vacancies
occur in dwellings under the control of the Corporation. Nearly half of the 250 families are newly
married couples or young married couples with one child. Many of these are mobile and may find
work and accommodation elsewhere. For the remainder there appears to be little chance of re-housing
until the plan for the redevelopment of the City and the policy in regard to the provision of permanent
housing within the City are agreed.
FACTORY ACT, 1937.
Factory premises have been under such supervision as has been possible having regard to their
needs.
There are 4 above-ground bakehouses and 3 underground bakehouses.
The provisions of the Act relating to outworkers have been carried out as heretofore.
No case of infectious disease was reported in connection with outworkers' premises in the City.
SHOPS ACT, 1934.
9 shops and warehouses have been inspected and where necessary re-inspected. Any defects
have been remedied without recourse to legal proceedings.
PHARMACY AND POISONS ACT, 1933.
69 firms were registered under this Act, 64 of which were re-registrations. The few infringements
which were noted were all remedied without difficulty on the request of the Medical Officer of Health.
PHARMACY AND MEDICINES ACT, 1941.
The provisions of the above Act were carried out without recourse to legal proceedings and
without special difficulty.
FERTILIZERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1926.
The provisions of the above Act were carried out without recourse to legal proceedings and
without special difficulty.
MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT, 1926.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (GRADING AND MARKING) ACT, 1928-1931.
No difficulty was experienced during the year in regard to the administration of the above Acts.
CREMATIONS.
814 cremations were carried out at the City of London Crematorium at Ilford.
CITY MORTUARY.
Bodies received *88
Post Mortem Examinations made 36
Inquest on bodies 30
Inquest on fires 0
*47 of these deaths resulted from enemy action.