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51
The great demand for house accommodation has distinctly
abated during 1902, owing to discharges from the Arsenal, but
it is still difficult for persons with a family to obtain a house.
Overcrowding, it must be remarked, is caused not only by the
lack of houses, but also by the high ratio of rents to wages,
and the slack work which produces empty houses may, at the
same time, increase overcrowding in those occupied, Rents,
which were inflated by the great demand for houses in 1900
and 1901 have not fallen, and cheap houses are even a more
pressing demand than more houses, and power to fix a fair rent
seems one of the much needed housing reforms.
18. Dampness—Breach of Building Act. In some houses
recently built in Timbercroft Lane Inspector Little found
serious dampness, and, searching for the cause, discovered
that there was no concrete on the site. This breach of the
L.C.C. bye-laws under the Building Act was pointed out to the
District Surveyor, who required the builder to concrete the
sites in accordance with the bye-laws.
19. Smoke Nuisance.—105 observations of smoking chimneys
were made, and proceedings taken against four offenders for
eight separate offences; convictions were obtained in each
case. The fines inflicted were not excessive, varying from 10/to
40/- for each offence (see Table IX.)
Although there is still a good deal of unnecessary smoke
from the Arsenal chimneys, I am glad to be able to record a
distinct improvement at these factories.
20. Defective Light.—One of the most serious of consumption
and many other diseases is the absence of daylight, and
especially sunlight in dwelling rooms. Light shews dirt, and
secures cleanliness ; sunlight is directly antiseptic, and light is
probably as necessary for growing animals as for plants. Un-
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