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42
HOUSES AND HOUSING ACCOMMODATION.
Houses of the Working Classes. Building operations
were continued, but with somewhat less activity, throughout the
year.
The Council's bye-laws are carried out under the supervision of
the building inspectors, by whom the drains are water-tested.
Bye-law 113 of the Council's bye-laws relating to new streets and
buildings (1904) reads as follows
"A person shall not let or occupy any new dwelling house until
the drainage thereof shall have been made and completed,
nor until such dwelling house shall, after examination, have
been certified by an officer of the Council so authorised to
be in his opinion in every respect fit for human habitation."
By resolution of the Council dated 12th April, 1905, it was decided
that the Medical Officer of Health should be the officer authorised
to grant the certificate of fitness for habitation referred to in the
bye-law.
I have therefore visited all newly-built houses on the receipt of the
completion notices, and when satisfied as to their dryness and fitness
in other respects for habitation I have forwarded a certificate to that
effect to the owner. If, on the other hand, the house has shown
dampness or other defect likely to prove dangerous to health, the
certificate has been witheld until, at a subsequent inspection, its
condition has been found to be remedied
One conviction, accompanied by a penalty, has been obtained for
contravention of this bye-law in the case of an owner who occupied
his houses previous to the receipt of my certificate.
The following is a tabulated account of the work done under this
bye-law :—
Certificates given after 1st inspection 234
Certificates given after 2nd inspection 30