View report page

47
The result of the absence of such accommodation is that these
families are compelled to occupy one room shut off from the rest
of the house. Virtually one-roomed back-to-back houses, which
are sometimes worse than the unfit houses scheduled for demolition.
In this one room all the occupations of the day and night are
performed. Parents and family have to rise, dress, wash, cook and
cat their meals, etc. A fire burns all day, winter and summer, as
this is the only means of cooking and heating water. By the time
night comes the whole family crowds itself again into one or two
beds and attempts to secure what refreshing sleep it may in an
atmosphere fouled and vitiated by the day's occupations.
Many of these families consist of man, wife and children of
mixed sexes and adolescent age.
Under these conditions the preservation of cleanliness and bodily
health are as difficult as the maintenance of modesty.
Further, much of the good work which could be achieved with
regard to child welfare must be largely thwarted and rendered
abortive by the hopelessness of the surroundings into which so many
of our babies are born.
This may be reiteration of what has previously been written
but I must repeat and emphasise it. Although the Council has done
such fine work in providing so large a quota of houses for the working
classes, it is very urgent and imperative that much additional
accommodation should be provided for the poorest of the poor, and
it is my earnest hope that the Council will take advantage of the
passing of the Housing Bill No. 2 to make an extension of their
activities in this direction.
GENERAL STANDARD OF HOUSING.
The general standard of housing in the district is good for an
industrial area. Apart from the old houses situated in certain parts
of Abbey and Central Wards the dwellings are of a type and structure
which permit of adequate lighting and ventilation, and were it