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"While this is the reply which I would suggest, I still consider
that the Council should press forward with their scheme for providing
at least 50 new houses, and that we should inform the Ministry of
the Council's determination to do so. If this were done, it might
be possible to arrange for voluntary closing of certain houses in the
district, with the subsequent re-housing on these tenants in Council
houses."
Since this report was issued the house referred to in paragraph 2
has been vacated.
I need hardly reiterate the fact that, although "slums" are
absent from Southgate, no effort will be spared to maintain the
existing standard of housing and to effect improvements whenever
and wherever such are necessary. In this connection, I would
repeat my please of last year for more and still more Council houses.
The question of uneconomic rents is still with us, pregnant with
difficulties, and demanding immediate solution. The Council should
not rest until it is satisfied that the urgent need for houses whose
rents are within the slender means of the more necessitous families
is met, and adequately met. Every shilling spent in rent means
less nourishment for some unfortunate family, and we should
remember that starvation is quite as effective in a mansion as in a
two-roomed cottage. Everything considered, I know of no problem
which cries out for solution more than does this one, and I therefore
trust that it will receive the attention which it requires.
Overcrowding.—Five cases of overcrowding in a mild form
were reported this year. It was possible in all instances to effect
material improvement in the conditions under which the families
lived.
Rent Restrictions Acts.—Under the provisions of these
Acts, 9 applications were received from occupiers for certificates
to the effect that their houses were not in a reasonable state of
repair. Special inspections were made in each case, and 9 certificates
were granted.
In addition to the above, 3 applications were received from
owners of premises for certificates that the necessary work to put
the premises into a reasonable state of repair had been executed.
Certificates were granted in all three cases.
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