View report page

32
Coke is not, as is popularly supposed, "coal with the goodness taken
out of it", but is "coal with the smoke taken out of it"; and, if properly
used, it gives more heat (weight for weight) than coal. In addition, there
are no grounds for apprehension of danger from carbon monoxide poisoning
provided proper appliances are used, for coke produces no more carbon
monoxide than raw coal.
It is already the practice of local authorities, at the instance of the
Central Government, to instal improved appliances capable of burning
coke efficiently in the new houses they build; and it is suggested that private
builders should be required to follow the same practice.
HOUSING
Historical Survey.
1919 Owing to the state of housing after the first World War, the Housing
Act of 1919 required local authorities to prepare schemes for the
provision in their areas of enough houses for the working classes.
1920 The then Medical Officer of Health recommended the appointment
of an additional sanitary inspector to carry out housing surveys,
but the Council could not see its way to adopt that recommendation
because of the heavy Rates at that time.
The Medical Officer of Health recommended the clearance of an
unhealthy area (Lea Bridge Gardens) in which 300 persons lived
in some 47 houses (sic); but, as houses were not available for the
families to be de-housed, no action could be taken.
1921 The Medical Officer of Health repeated his recommendation for an
additional sanitary inspector for housing duties, but without avail.
1925 New Housing Act to stimulate local authorities to take action regarding
slum clearance.
The Medical Officer of Health reported that the shortage of houses
cannot be measured, but considered that there would still be a
shortage of houses even if all available land were built on.
1930 The Housing Act of 1930 required housing authorities to provide
houses in advance before clearance areas could be dealt with.
Strong action by local authorities, to remove the social evil of slums,
was called for by the Government.
In that year there were in Leyton still 454 applicants for houses in
whose cases the Council was unable to allot accommodation.
There were also three areas considered to be so dangerous or
injurious to health as to justify them being dealt with as clearance
areas, and two areas to be dealt with at a future date.
1932 After an interval of 12 years since the last recommendation, the
Medical Officer of Health again recommended that Lea Bridge
Gardens be dealt with as a clearance area ; but, as the Council could
not provide accommodation for displaced tenants, recourse was
had to the relatively unsatisfactory and much more cumbersome
method of individual demolition of unfit properties.