View report page

67
Housing.
During the year the work of house-to-house inspection went steadily forward and
became more distinctly established as one of the routine parts of the administration of
the Department.
The house-to-house inspector received his instructions to examine the houses in a
certain street, the "sanitary survey" sheets, prepared by the district inspectors, serving
as a guide to the streets calling for attention; houses in which defects were noted by
him were referred to the district inspectors; the conditions were further investigated
by them, notices served and follow-up visits paid till the defects were remedied and
the matter written off.
The matter of house-to-house inspection is referred to later in these pages, but it
may be stated now that effects of the utmost value in connection with housing have
been produced as a result of the work. Numbers of defects have been found which
have been remedied under the powers granted by the Public Health Act.
Great improvements have also been produced as a result of indirect pressure
brought to bear upon owners, who, to avoid the possibility of action being taken in
reference to their property under sections of the Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act,
1909, consented to carry out considerable alterations or even to voluntarily close
the premises.
The following examples may be quoted :—
No. 7, Salisbury Street Obstructive buildings removed from back
yard, and premises thrown open at
back. Additional light and ventilation
provided to back ante room. W.C.'s removed
from basement and top floor, and reconstructed
in suitable position with adequate
light and ventilation in back yard. The
drainage reconstructed throughout; 2 rooms
cleansed.
Nos. 37, 39, 41 and 43, Salisbury Street The water closets and branch drains from same
(August, 1911) removed from unsuitable position under
basement stairs. New water closet apartments
constructed on the ground floor,
entered from staircase, and with proper
external ventilation to back area. Drains
and soil - pipes reconstructed. Water
provided to upper storeys; various rooms
cleansed and repaired; the basements
cleansed, and proper light and through
ventilation provided to same at the rear.