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Forty-four flats have already been erected adjoining the
Council's Estate to cope with the increasing demand for Council
houses. In 1936, a further resolution was adopted to erect 10 sixroomed
Council houses, 40 five-roomed houses, 16 three-roomed
flats and 8 bungalows for aged persons (this latter proposal will in
all probability require modification, although the accommodation
will still be provided). The Public Health Department co-operated
in this work by suggesting to the Council the number of rooms
required in individual houses to abate the existing degree of overcrowding,
and also by making suggestion as to the minimum floor
space of such rooms.
Mention must also be made of the Community Hall which was
opened in a position adjoining the Council Housing Estate in
1935, and which has proved an unqualified success. There are not
many such amenities provided in England, and Southgate can feel
proud that the Council sponsored and made possible such an
admirable enterprise.
It can thus be stated that Southgate has contributed its quota
towards the solution of one of the greatest national problems which
this country has at any time been asked to face. We are now inan
enviable position, and I do not think we have any reason to fear
the approaching future. An official of the Ministry paid a recent
visit to the Public Health Department and seemed to be of the
opinion that we had met the housing needs of the district in an
adequate manner. This official made various useful suggestions
which were handed on to the appropriate Committees, most
important among which was the question of graduated rents.
Although we now appear to have a sufficiency of Council houses
available for our citizens, it is still a moot point as to the capabilities
of those citizens to meet the required rents. Above everything
else, our purpose must be to provide accommodation for those
persons who are unable to obtain suitable premises at a rental
within the capacity of their slender incomes. A system of graduated
rents might solve this difficulty, and it is for the Council to decide
whether such a system would be advantageous. I am of the definite
opinion that a thorough investigation should be made of the
problem, and that the system should be adopted if there is the
slightest evidence to show that the nutrition of any families within
the Borough is suffering because they are required to expend too
large a portion of their income upon rent. In my judgment, this
constitutes an even more serious question than does overcrowding,
important as this problem undoubtedly is. The latter condition
certainly encourages disease, but the former problem, uneconomic
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