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43
Difficulties in the supply of bins necessitated arrangements being made
for these to be sold by the Council to householders. The altered composition
of the house refuse was amongst others a reason that the use
of the destructor and separation plant was discontinued, the refuse
being disposed of by controlled tipping at different sites in the district.
One class of nuisance to which the district has been subjected is the bin
for pig food which is an offence to sight and smell as well as being a
breeding ground for flies and a larder for rats.
Housing: Since amalgmation progress had been made in the
eradication of the poorer class of habitation in the district. Concurrently
repairs were being carried out to quite a high standard. There
were areas in the district which it was appreciated would have to be
very seriously considered with a view to demolition, the more extensive
of these perhaps being groups of houses erected comparatively recently.
The overcrowding survey showed that there was relatively little statutory
overcrowding in the area. Of course the standard had to start with
to be pitched lower than was desirable, but there were comparatively
few houses in the area needing attention. On the other hand, concern
was being felt at the growing practice of houses not built for that purpose
and not modified being used for the occupation of more than one family.
It was felt that this practice would lower the general standards of part
of the area, and lead to such a deterioration that the premises would be
occupied only by the more undesirable tenant and so rapidly lead to
patches of slumdom.
The war soon altered the relatively satisfactory housing position
of the district. Shortage of labour and shortage of materials restricted
action under the Housing Acts, quite apart from the shortage of sanitary
inspectors to carry out the routine inspections. Repairs of property
then had to be limited to that work necessary to comply with the more
urgent standards of the Public Health Acts. No further houses were
reported with a view to the making of demolition or clearance orders,
while the demolition of properties already condemned was suspended,
especially so as there was no accommodation to offer to the occupants
of these condemned houses. The standard of housing then has fallen.
In many of the poorer classes of building this decline has been particularly
rapid, and much is being occupied to-day which must have
been condemned on the pre-war standards. The position in regard
to crowding, too, has become much worse. In many instances it is
not merely a question of the members of one family causing overcrowding
by one or more units, but to-day entire families are living in parts of
houses, in some cases only one room, against all standards of decency
let alone of hygiene. It is a sad thought that for a period presumably
of years distressing conditions must be tolerated, and that it must be
long before the district will recover sufficiently to reach the pre-war
standard, and this too, before consideration can be given to those problems
present in 1939, and which to-day are so very much worse.
Food: One of the earlier effects of the war was the closing of
private slaughterhouses, and the establishment in this district of a meat
depot for wholesale distribution. For many years abolition of the
many private slaughterhouses has been advocated on the grounds of