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Apart from treatment of business premises and
dwelling houses on behalf of occupiers, the Corporation
sewers and refuse tips were systematically baited during
1945.
7. OTHER DUTIES.
Assistance to various Government Departments
was continued during the year under review, as well as
co-operation with other Corporation Departments, particularly
with regard to survey of war damaged properties and
the issue of Certificates of Essentiality in connection
with applications for building work licences and for
permits to purchase timber and other building materials.
To assist the Housing Committee in the selection
of tenants, 379 visits were made in connection with applications
for housing accommodation, and reports were submitted,
giving the particular circumstances of each case.
Section D.
HOUSING.
The general appraisement of the housing position
as set out in the Report for 1943 was equally applicable
in 1945• In all probability the increase in the marriage
rate was the principal cause of the demand for housing
accommodation, and led to a still further increase in the
number of houses, originally designed for the occupation
of one family, being used by two or more families. In
common with other parts of the Greater London area, there
were indications also of a continued inward movement of
population.
Early in the year the position was made very
acute by reason of the widespread havoc caused by the
V2 incident in Park Road in which about 2,000 houses were
affected in varying degree, and including a large group
which were a total loss. Some of these 2,000 houses had
suffered damage in previous incidents and had not long
been made fit for habitation. The wastage of labour and
materials in this respect was most unfortunate.
Every effort was made to bring back into early
use all damaged houses, and every available and suitable
property was requisitioned to rehouse displaced families.
At the end of 1945 no less than 208 premises were under
requisition.
In addition to the use of existing houses, the
Corporation erected 114 temporary hutments of the curved
asbestos type, on the sites of demolished houses and on
other sites acquired for the purpose, in an effort to make
good the losses incurred by enemy action-. The erection
of the first post-war permanent houses (l8) was also
commenced during the year.