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146
But to resume: On the 27th of January, 1891, the Council
approved of the manner of dealing with the area, as proposed
by the Committee, in three sections. It is estimated
that 5720 persons will he displaced by the scheme, but
that ultimately there will be rehoused, in four-storied
dwellings, 4600 persons, so that 1120 persons less will be
housed on the area. It is the duty of the Council to provide for
persons to the number of those displaced, but experience proves
that many of the latter do not avail themselves of the accommodation
ostensibly provided for them. The Committee made
proposals for providing 2000 persons elsewhere than on the area,
so as to allow use to be made of a part of section 3, for other
purposes of a more remunerative character. In the report,
reference is made to the possibility of providing for some of the
displaced persons by removing them to the suburbs, and it is
stated that within five minutes' walk of stations on the Great
Eastern Railway, there were vacant houses available: e.g., at
Enfield, houses of six rooms, newly built, at 5s. and 5s. 6d. per
week; others, of four rooms, at 4s. 6d. per week. Similar houses
can be hired at about the same rents, which include rates, taxes,
&c., averaging about 1s. to 1s. 2d. per room, at Ponder's End,
Lower Edmonton, &c. Workmen's tickets are 1s. a week, or 2d.
per day. It may be concluded, therefore, that the rent per room,
plus travelling expenses, would not be much, if any more than
half the amount paid by the dwellers in insanitary rooms on the
unhealthy area. The Committee, however, believe that "but a
small number will avail themselves even of cheaper and better
dwellings when they are at a distance from town life." Other
methods of providing temporarily, in the locality, for the people
now living on the area, are discussed in detail in the report.
In March last, the Commissioner appointed by the Home
Secretary held an enquiry into the correctness of the official
representations, made by the Medical Officers of Bethnal Green
and Shoreditch, in the matter of the Boundary Street Area. There
were 18 opponents, whose principal contention was that the