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52
felt they could be readily turned into good warehouses. Had
closing orders, been served this would not be possible as the
Local Government Board hold that it is necessary to follow
up such orders by demolition.
The Potteries, Arkley.
Notices were served upon the owner to carry out certain
works to this property. It was decided not to carry out the
work, and the tenant, who was put in as caretaker, removed.
The property shortly after changed hands and was demolished
to make room for a new building.
HOUSING SCHEME.
The Council, in pursuance of their policy of securing the
proper housing of the working classes within their district,
have, as a first instalment, erected 30 cottages upon the estate
purchased for this purpose.
The chief qualifications for the cottages are that the
applicants shall be of the working class not earning more than
40s. weekly, and must have had twelve months previous
residence in the district.
This condition of previous residence precludes the possibility
of the cottages being acquired by persons other than
those resident in Barnet, the Council merely wishing to
provide for the needs of the District by relieving the undoubted
overcrowding which exists as a result of the dearth of accommodation,
and for those residents whose existing housing
conditions are insanitary.
The applications were carefully considered by the
Council, and the wages of the selected tenants range from
18s. to 37s. per week, the majority of them earning less than
30s. per week.
It is generally accepted that a person should not pay
more than one-fifth of his wages in rent, and indeed it is
difficult to see how he could afford to. This being the case, it
cannot truly be urged that the Council have not selected the
right class of tenant.
The question of providing for the person who can only
afford to pay 4s. to 5s. per week has yet to be dealt with, and
the Council have pledged themselves to meet the needs of
this class in the near future.