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37
works and a large electric generating station on the
Marshes, and when this takes place there will probably
be a certain increase of population.
Even as things are at present there is a considerable
shortage of houses in the district, and it is proposed
to carry out a housing scheme and build 1,000 houses
during the next 3 years.
(ii) Overcrowding.
It is estimated that there are about 120 houses in
the district which are over crowded taking as a standard
more than two persons per room.
There are also approximately 400 houses which are
occupied (without having been specially adapted) by two
or more families.
The principal cause of overcrowding is of course the
shortage of houses, and in view of this little or nothing
can be done to abate the trouble until more houses are
built.
(iii) Fitness of Houses.
(1) (a) The general standard of housing is good ;
before the war it was better than at present. Probably
half the houses in the district have been built during the
past 25 years under the Council's bye-laws, and the large
majority of these have remained in good condition.
Many of the older houses have, however, owing to want
of timely repairs, due to war and post-war conditions,
not been maintained at their pre-war standard.
During the last 2 or 3 years of the war no
systematic housing inspections were undertaken, but in
July, 1919, this was again started, and a list made of the
worst properties in the district with a view to their
inspection. From that time till the end of December
465 houses were inspected, and a table is given at the
end showing the results of the inspections. Twentytwo
houses were found to be in good condition, the
remainder having one or more defects; 138 in water