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" For the paving and drainage of premises; and
" For notices to be given, and precautions to be taken, in
case of any dangerously infectious or contagious
disease."
In isolated cases, when overcrowding is found to exist it
will be easy to measure rooms, so as to enforce the provisions of
Regulation 2, which prescribes the air space to be allowed for
each person, according to age; and, in like manner, should any
glaring instance of indecent occupation come to light, it will be
possible to enforce Regulation 3, which relates to the " separation
of the sexes."
Omission to press inquisitorial inquiries, needless in many
cases, with respect to personal matters, such as " number, age,
and sex of the occupants of each room used for sleeping," etc.,
will tend to facilitate the application of the sanitary provisions
of the regulations. The information to be obtained by such
inquiries would have 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.
The announcement of intention to register houses proved
distasteful to many " landlords," some of whom " stated in
writing reasons why the house should not be registeredbut
almost without exception the "reason" stated amounted to no
more than an " 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 stigmatized 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 quasi-private document;
no intimation of registration is given excepting to the
parties immediately interested; to wit, the " owner," the
" keeper " (i.e., the occupier; but in the case of a tenementhouse
the "owner "is "keeper," also), and the lodgers. So far
from registration injuring property, I believe it will come to be