View report page

156
(3.) "That a copy of the above resolutions be sent to the London County Council,
the Kensington Vestry, the licensing justices, the Kensington, and the North
Kensington Ratepayers' Associations, the members of Parliament (Sir A.
Borthwick and Mr. Frye), and the members of the County Council (Messrs.
Campbell, Doake, Beresford Hope, and Lloyd), to the Mansion House Committee,
to the President of the Local Government Board, and to the Bishops
of London and Marlborough."
A copy of the resolutions having been forwarded to me,
I applied to the Chairman of the " Conference," stating that if
any "definite facts bearing on the state of individual houses
had been brought to the attention of the meeting," I should be
glad to be informed and to take such steps as might be
necessary. His reply convinced me that the good intentions
of the gentlemen concerned, had outstripped their knowledge ;
for he could give me no help. At about the same time I had
a letter from the hon. secretary of the North Kensington
Sanitary Aid Committee, stating the opinion of the Committee
that steps should be taken to condemn the area comprised in
the five streets, and enquiring, Whether I was prepared to
make an "Official Representation " under Part I. or Part II.
of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1800? The
grounds of the "opinion" given, were (1), That the sewerage
system is inefficient and insanitary; and (2), That many of the
houses are overcrowded and otherwise in an insanitary condition.
The sewerage of the district, as your Vestry's Surveyor
satisfied the Sanitary Coram ittee, is efficient, and
therefore sanitary.
With respect to the second reason assigned, why an
"official representation" should be made by me, viz., that
"many houses are overcrowded, and otherwise in an insanitary
condition," these, obviously, are matters that can be dealt with
under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891;
as indeed they are. There is no need for an "official representation."
The streets are of ample width, the houses comparatively
modern, and the class of property of fairly good construction,
excepting on the south side of William Street.