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46
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
The standard of housing in Enfield varies within the District,
the Eastern portion containing houses for the working classes, and
the Western for more wealthy residents.
There are very few houses in Enfield which are not built of
brick.
Fitness of Houses.
No special measures were taken or suggested for the gradual
carrying out of programmes of repair.
I should estimate that about 80 houses in Enfield are not
supplied with water by the Water Company.
There are about 20 houses in the District which are not supplied
with a water-closet.
All these have earth-closets accommodation.
Bye-laws relating to Houses, to Houses let
in Lodgings, and to Tents, Vans, Sheds, etc.
The existing bye-laws are adequate, but increase in the
Staff of the Department would be necessary if the bye-laws with
respect to houses let in lodgings were to be enforced.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The Council now possesses 1,740 houses and are taking steps
to erect more.
It is thus to be hoped that overcrowding may ultimately cease
in the District and that the general standard of accommodation be
improved.
Once again the Council has been faced with the problem of
freeing houses from vermin. There are many methods of disinfestation,
but unless some form of hydrocyanic gas is used, it is
difficult to ensure that, even after disinfestation, the house is free
from vermin.
Hydrocyanic gas, however, is extremely poisonous, and the
Council have, therefore, not thought it wise to use it.
Various preparations have been employed throughout the year,
most of them being sulphur compounds. In many cases repeated
disinfestations have had to be carried out at fortnightly intervals,
and the removal of nearly all the woodwork of the house, and
subsequent re-decoration has been necessary.
It is difficult to estimate the size of the problem, and I can only
quote the actual facts.
During the course of the year the Health Department examined