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150
for the enforcement of sanitary conditions. They are satisfied
that Torrens's Acts (now re-enacted in the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1890) are ineffectual for clearing out slums,
or for remedying the work of jerry builders in the hands of the
Local Authorities, who, they allege, rest content with "improvements"
and "patchings-up," when the only practical remedy is
demolition. Usual reflections are passed upon "unwilling or
interested" Vestries; the remedy proposed being concurrent
power to enable the Council to enforce the provisions of Torrens's
Acts.* Cross's Acts (also re-enacted in the Housing of Working
Classes Act, 1890), they say, suffice for dealing with large areas,
but their operation involves "more or less cost and delay."
Approving reference is made to a letter of the President of the
Local Government Board (on "The Dwellings of the Labouring
Classes": the letter was re-produced in full in my Report for
1890, on page 119), on the assumption that the Local Authorities
neglect their duty—of preventing premises unfit for habitation from
being inhabited; of preventing overcrowding, and of securing the
demolition or improvement of insanitary dwellings. I dealt with
the difficulties of the Sanitary Authorities, on the subject of Mr.
Ritchie's letter, in my last Report (at page 122), and will, therefore,
only add here that, with enlarged experience, the Committee will
see cause to modify their views and soften their strictures. No
one can doubt their earnestness and good intentions, but they are
realizing what Local Authorities of older date know but too well;
the colossal difficulties in the way of providing decent houses for
the poor at any reasonable or remunerative rate; and, I doubt not,
will come in time to the conclusion, long since arrived at by myself,
that the best hope of success for their well-intentioned efforts to
remedy the evils resulting from overcrowding, will be found in
schemes providing for the migration of numbers of the people to
* In their annual report, the Committee refer to the unworkability of these
Acts. "The Local Authorities are averse to take action" under them,and "with
some justice, as superficial repairs to insanitary houses may be
considered sufficient by the Justices, to whom an appeal is made by the owner of
the property, and thus little result is effected,"