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30
Six houses in Reform Place, Merton, have received further
attention, and some new outbuildings have been provided, but
the dampness still remains to a great extent. The alterations
effected at three houses in Pincott Road, Merton, were more
satisfactory, and recently action has been taken to secure the
reconstruction of their drainage. Towards the end of the year
extensive repairs were commenced at three houses in Western
Road, Mitcham, and, although not yet completed, the result
will apparently be as satisfactory as it is possible to obtain in
wooden buildings. The house near Russell Hill, Purley, has
been closed, together with another adjoining, and three
cottages at Woodcote Hall, Wallington, not referred to in the
table, are also being dealt with.
Besides the above, five additional houses have been
represented as unfit for habitation. One is a dwelling near
the Upper Green, Mitcham, and the remaining four are a
group of cottages on Commonside East, Mitcham. All of
these houses are ancient, and, besides having insufficient
accommodation, are very dilapidated. The representations
were made in October and November, but nothing had been
done at the close of the year.
The summary of the Inspectors' work, given on
page 32, shows the work that is being done systematically
to improve the condition of dwellings in the District.
Particular attention is paid to the paving of back yards, so
commonly absent or imperfect, the improvement of sculleries
or wash-houses, where the female portion especially of the
working classes spend so much of their daily life, and, of
course, the sanitary conveniences and drains. But, as I
pointed out in my last Annual Report, there seems to be an
actual deficiency in the number of dwellings in some parts of
the District, the increase in houses not having apparently
kept pace with the increase of population.