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1930
16
the factory. They all lived in the East End of London, where
both the streets and the houses were overcrowded. They refused
the offer and various excuses were offered, but the chief excuse
was that they could not break off with old associations and leave
the old famihar haunts. But while this instance may be typical
of the attitude of the. older employees, it is probably not so of the
younger people. They desire to reside near, or at any rate as
conveniently near as possible to the place of their work. The influx
of these new industries has therefore resulted in a greater demand
for a certain class of house, and the supply of this type inside
the district has not increased in the same ratio as the people
who desire this accommodation.
The Council could not cope with all the demands, as at the
present time almost all the land in the district has been built over
Even if the whole of the unbuilt land were apprcpriated for the
erection of houses of a Certain type, there would not be sufficient
accommodation for all those who now come into the district to
work.
It might be assumed that owing to the increased demand for
a certain type of house, overcrowding would be more evident,
but other factors have been in operation. Coincidentally with the
industrialisation of the northern part of the district, there, has
been a vast change in the means of transport. In this period
mechanical transport has become universal, and distance is of
less importance than situation in the direct line of the means of
transport. To take an instance in our district. The factories
in the northern part of the district are conveniently situated for
the Central London Tube Railway, to the trams and buses from
Willesden, Wembley, Cricklewood, Edgware, etc. It is easier
for the employees in these factories to reach their work from
these districts and from districts served by the Central London
Railway than it would be if they lived in South Acton or Bedford
Park. There is no unbuilt land in South Acton or Bedford Park
but these are mentioned to show that the employees of the factories
in the northern part of the district are more dependent upon
housing accommodation in other areas than in our own. The
housing problem is part and parcel of that in London and
Middlesex, or possibly it would be more correct to say that it is
part of the problem in certain parts of London and Middlesex.
London and the suburbs are so huge that what is true of one
part may be untrue of another. The London County Council have
a large housing estate in Dagenham, but the erection of houses
there will not affect the housing question in Acton unless some
of the inhabitants of Acton find work in factories established in
Dagenham and East London. Similarly the erection of houses in
Norbury will not relieve t'hose residents of London who are employed
in Acton, Willesden and Greenford. Neither can the
erection of houses by individual boroughs and urban districts