View report page

27
It will be seen that, in a large majority of houses
inspected, there was the absence of an efficient horizontal
damp-proof course in the external walls of the
house, also a vertical damp-proof course to the external
surface of the walls, which, in consequence, has been
the cause of a considerable amount of damp showing
on the internal surface of the said walls, and as I have
pointed out previously, such work entails a great
amount of expense, therefore, very careful consideration
is gives to this branch of work, not only in giving
special attention to the work while in progress, but in
every decision when ordering such work to be carried
out, as in some instanoes we have found the damp due
to other causes than the want of a damp-proof course.
The most regrettable part of this business is that
the property is often in the hands of persons of rather
poor circumstances, who have very little means of a
livelihood other than the rent of a house, or perhaps
two. In this respect, local authorities have to consider
one important point, and that is, whether the
house is in every respect reasonably fit for human
habitation ; if the answer is in the negative, then it is
the duty of the local authority to see that it is put into
a condition, in all respects, reasonably fit, for it has
often been said, " It is not the prosperity of the owner
that must receive first consideration, but the health of
the inhabitants."
During the year, and under the above heading,
there were 195 houses inspected, and 1,613 nuisances
discovered. Of the number of houses so inspected
four have been demolished, also two other houses,
which were left in abeyance since 1913. There were
no closing orders issued for this purpose; the owners
voluntarily pulled them down following the service of
statutory notices to carry out, in three instances, very
extensive structural repairs. The houses were let at
a weekly rent of five shillings, and one at four shillings
and sixpence.