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164
These views, which I submitted in my first Monthly Report
for 1886, commended themselves to your Vestry, sharing with
me the opinion that omission to press inquisitorial enquiries
in regard to personal matters, as to "number, age, and sex o
the occupants of each room used for sleeping," etc., would tend
to facilitate the application of the sanitary provisions of the regulations.
The information proposed to be obtained by such
enquiries would have had little and evanescent value; for
"lodgers" are a migratory class and "particulars" correct when
obtained, cease to be so on any and every change in tenancy.
It may be mentioned that notice of your Vestry's intention to
register certain houses has proved distasteful to "landlords,"
and some of them have "stated in writing reasons why the house
should not be registered;" but almost without exception the
"reason" stated has simply been "objection" to registration,
based usually on a mistaken supposition that by registration the
"registered house" would become a "common lodging-house,"
subject to police inspection, and stigmatised in a manner likely to
diminish its letting value.* It is hardly necessary to say that
these evils are purely imaginary. The register is a quasiprivate
document: no intimation of registration is given excepting
* The Vestry's "notice" to the landlord of intention to register might have
prevented such a mistake. It is as follows:—"Sanitary Act, 1866, 29 & 30 Vic.,
cap. 'JO, sec. 35; and Sanitary Law Amendment Act, 1874, 37 & 38 Vic., cap.
89, sec. 47.—I have to inform you that the Vestry propose to Register the house
described as of which you are the landlord,' in conformity with the
provisions of the above-cited Acts. 1 forward herewith a copy of the Regulations
made by the Vestry, and confirmed by the Local Government Board, for Houses
let in lodgings, and Registered. On page 2 you will find a Summary of the
sections of the Acts referring to the subject. To prevent mistake, I am to inform
you that the registration of a house will not make it a Common Lodging House
under the provisions of the Common Lodging Houses Acts, which are administered
by the Police Authorities; that there will be nothing affixed to the house
to indicate that it is registered; and that so far from any disadvantage
attaching to a house because it is registered, the Vestry are of opinion that the
fact of registration may rather be expected to add to the value of the house, by
proving that it is in good sanitary condition. Should you, after the above
explanation, desire to state, for the information of the Vestry, any reasons "why
the above described house should not be registered, you will please do so (in
writing) within fourteen days."