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48
(4) Overcrowding and its evils are not denied, but in the
opinion of the Vestry and its officers these bye-laws are
in no sense a remedy. The Vestry maintain that they are
already adopting the best possible methods to abate overcrowding,
and consider it most invidious that they should
have been singled out by the Council for report to the
Local Government Board, whilst other Vestries who have
merely made a show of obedience are not attacked.
The whole matter was thoroughly discussed, many questions were
put to us, and I was pressed to give an undertaking that some
attempt should be made to work the regulations. Of course I was
unable to do this. After the subject had been thoroughly thrashed
out we retired for the Committee to deliberate, and on re-admission
were informed that the following resolution had been passed :—
"That the Council be recommended to pass the resolution
recommended in the report, but that the Committee be
empowered to delay the complaint to the Local Government
Board until the first meeting after the Vacation so
as to give the Vestry an opportunity of further considering
the matter."
During the afternoon it was made very clear to both Mr. Foot
and myself, that the Council and their medical officers were determined
that the law should be obeyed and these regulations enforced
throughout the County of London.
Let us fairly consider what advantages are to be expected if the
regulations are put in force.
(1) Increased facility for ensuring and maintaining the proper
cleanliness of passages, staircases, rooms and yards of
tenement houses.
(2) The improvement of the ventilation and lighting of the
rooms of such houses.
(3) The more early and certain detection of sanitary defects,
such as bad water supply and choked drains, by means of
regular periodical inspections.