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45
noted that demolition orders were made in respect of 24 houses
represented to the Council as unfit for human habitation, and that
11 houses were demolished during the course of the year.
In addition to this, by private arrangement with the owners,
23 undertakings were accepted to the effect that houses would be
demolished provided the Council found alternative accommodation
for the tenants thereof. Following upon such undertakings, 21
houses were demolished.
Demolition work can only be carried out where alternative
accommodation can be offered to tenants, and in view of the fact
that the Council did not build houses during the year, it was only
possible to rehouse tenants when vacancies of existing houses
occurred. Nevertheless, it is very satisfactory to record that in all
32 houses were demolished during the course of the year.
As this work proceeds, a time will arrive when there will be no
houses in the district occupied yet unfit for human habitation.
In 1933 the Council adopted as its five year programme the
demolition of 63 houses. At the time of writing this Report, 73
houses have already been demolished. It will therefore be seen
that, not only has the programme been carried out in less than the
five years anticipated, but the number of houses demolished has
exceeded the original estimate. The demolition of individual
houses is still proceeding, whilst, in addition, three areas have been
represented as Clearance Areas. The demolition of these Areas
must necessarily take time and await the erection of further Council
houses. The Council is at present exploring every avenue towards
the obtaining of further land for the erection of houses.
A new feature during the year has been the formation of
associations of Council house tenants.
From the point of view of public health, I sincerely hope that
these associations will devote themselves, not only to the righting
of such grievances as they may consider that they have, but, in
addition, to the improvement of the health of the Council's tenants.
These associations can be a great power for good in the district.
I should like to see them organising lectures; arranging inter-estate
sports matches; arranging competitions for the best-kept house
and the most beautiful garden; creating the spirit of pride in the
homes of the Council's tenants, and generally improving the health
of the mothers and the children and the physique of the fathers.
I am convinced that these associations, if they proceed on the
right lines, can be a strong bulwark in the fortress protecting the
tenants against ill-health and disease.