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43
A conference on '29th June, organised by the Labour Housing Association,
was attended by Councillor Barrass and our Architect. It considered the
Government proposals of financial assistance and the alternative of loans free
of interest, also the taxation of site values.
Our Engineer and Architect attended a conference convened by the London
County Council on 30th October at Spring Gardens, S.W., and in November
presented a report showing that one resolution had been carried nem. con.:—
"That it is desirable that all the Local Authorities of Greater London should
work together in carrying out, as a co-ordinated whole, any schemes that have
been, or may be, adopted by such authorities"; and, further, "that this conference,
representative of all housing authorities in and around London, within
a radius of 15 miles, desires to urge upon His Majesty's Government the prime
importance of (I.) applying to all buildings erected under Parts I., II., and III.
of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, the financial assistance
mentioned in the Local Government Board circular of the 18th March, 1918,
and (II.) passing the long promised legislation for accelerating and cheapening
the acquisition of slum property."
The Middlesex County Council arranged a conference of local authorities
for 22nd November, when this resolution was passed:—"That the area of
London and Greater London within fifteen miles of Charing Cross or thereabouts,
should form a unit with a single Authority for housing purposes, and
a proportion of the cost thereof charged upon that area." The Engineer and
Architect attended a meeting of the North Eastern section at the Middlesex
County Guildhall on 28th November.
In December our Public Health Committee advised "that the Local Government
Board be urged to take the necessary steps to release labour and materials
as soon as possible for repairing and renovating property which, owing to the
war, had got into a bad condition."
OUR HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE.
On December 9th the Housing and Town Planning Committee held their
only meeting during 1918, at which Councillor Cadman was re-appointed Chairman,
and the circular of the Local Government Board of 14th November was
considered. To the five questions from the Government, the following answers
were made (which I quote from our minutes without any acceptance of responsibility
for their literary? form, or all their meaning.):—
1. Q.—Are the Local Authority prepared to provide any necessary
houses for the working classes for their district, so far as not otherwise
provided, at an early date?
A.—In view of the fact that it is thought desirable by the major
portion of Greater London that a Single Housing Authority should
undertake the whole of the work for the housing of the workers of London,
this Authority are not prepaired to build any houses in this district
until some definite decision is arrived at.