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148
habitation, and they are now occupied, although the owners
were informed of the intention of your Vestry to apply to
the Local Government Board for sanction to a scheme which
will necessitate the demolition of the said houses, should the
scheme be approved. The County Council contribute to the
cost of carrying out schemes—to the extent of not more than
one half of the nett expenditure—when the schemes deal
satisfactorily with the insanitary areas, and when the need of
such contribution is shown to the satisfaction of the Council.
In case of disagreement between the Council and the Local
Authority, the Home Secretary is authorised by the Act to
specify the amount of the contribution (if any) to be made by
the Council.
In my Annual Report for 1888-89, I observed that it
would be well, could the County Council enter into competition
with the owners of insanitary houses, by providing decent
houses for the working classes, at a moderate but remunerative
rent, under what was then known as Lord Shaftesbury's Act.
The Council, shortly afterwards, resolved to make the
attempt, on the "Hughes-Field site" at Deptforcl, some
seven acres in extent, which had been acquired by the Metropolitan
Board of Works, under Cross's Acts ; but, for reasons
which need not be repeated here, they were unable then to give
effect to their resolution. In November last, the Public
Health and Housing Committee recommended that renewed
application be made to the Home Secretary for permission
for the Council to erect dwellings on the vacant plots. The
report was referred back with an instruction to the Committee
to confer thereon with the Corporate Property Committee.
The Council, I think it may be said, recognize
the impossibility of relieving, to more than a very limited
extent, the present unsatisfactory condition of things, in regard
to the housing of the working classes, by the provision
of fresh accommodation in the form of model dwellings,
whether undertaken by philanthropists or public bodies : the