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without the Council being faced with any of the worries of
possible litigation, or by an appeal being made to the Local
Government Board against any action taken.
There are still a few isolated cases where property will
require to be condemned, but now that the greater portion
has been dealt with it will be possible to deal in a systematic
manner with other properties in the District, which, although
not unfit for habitation, still require the very necessary house
survey provided for in the Housing and Town Planning Act,
1909, and a number of these houses will be dealt with each
year in the future.
I estimate that there are at least a thousand houses in
the district which need a survey.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Proceedings were taken in respect of the following case,
viz.:—
(1.) Application was made to the Court for a summons
against William Gridley, of 191, High-street, Barnet, for
obstructing your Inspector in the execution of his duties.
The summons was granted, and came on for hearing before
the Court on the following week.
It had come to my notice that the defendant had been
habitually depositing meat in his yard for the purpose of
preparation for sale. I accordingly requested permission to
enter his premises for the purpose of inspection. Right of
entry was refused, and consequently legal proceedings were
instituted against the occupier.
After a careful hearing of the case, the Chairman stated
that he was willing to suppose that the defendant did not
properly understand the law on the subject, and, under these
circumstances, fined him 10s. and 5s. 6d. costs.
Early in the year I was authorised to take proceedings
against the owner of a ditch, which was a source of recurring
nuisance. Before the proceedings were taken the owner
complied with my notice requiring the piping-in of the ditch,
and the need for taking proceedings was obviated.
HOUSING SCHEME.
Some delay has occurred in carrying out the second
instalment of the Housing Scheme, the 22 additional cottages
sanctioned by the Local Government Board to be built in
Totteridge Lane not being commenced until late in the year.