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9
The ambulance is also available for the removal of cases
of illness to or from Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc. ; a charge
is made for the hire of the ambulance, the amount varying with
the distance of the Institutions. The ambulance was hired on
226 occasions by private persons, and the fees paid amounted to
£79 12s.
HOUSING.
This question was dealt with fully in last year's report,
and the conditions cannot be said to have changed materially
since last year.
At the present time many buildings are being erected, and
last year, probably over 300 new dwelling houses were erected.
But the class of dwelling house which is now being erected is
for sale only, and is quite beyond the means of artisans and
unskilled labourers. For a certain type of house, the demand is
greater than the supply.
Since the war, many new industries have been started in
the district, but very few houses have been built which are suitable
for those and their families whose wages are under £3 per week.
The Council's houses are occupied by clerks and skilled
artisans, and even these in some instances find the rents higher
than they can afford to pay, and as a consequence permission has
been given in certain cases to sublet. Apart from the Council's
houses, and those erected on the Great Western land, and some
rected by a few private firms for their own employees, all the
houses erected have been for sale only.
Many of the new industries which have been established
have many expert employees, and the labour employed in these
industries is drawn from all parts of London and other industrial
areas. These people are naturally anxious to get rooms or houses
near the works, and there is competition for any houses which
may become vacant.
The difficulties which we encounter vary, and cannot be
classified. Usually the question of overcrowding is the most
pressing one.
In the course of our inspections, we find a family
occupying one room. The family consists of husband, wife and
a number of children, in some instances as many as six children.
Based on the standard adopted in the Council's bye-laws
relating to Houses-let-in-lodgings, the tenement is overcrowded.
Occasionally there are one or two children over 12 years of age,
and of opposite sexes.