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48
In Junc, 1926, a Report on Congested Houses (63 in number) was presented
to the Local Authority and was subsequently transmitted to the Ministry of
Health.
2.—Sufficiency of supply of houses.
(a) Extent of shortage, if any, of houses available at reasonable rents, and the
measures taken or contemplated to meet any shortage.
The Corporation during the last five years has erected 416 houses. At the
present time there is a considerable waiting list of applicants. The numbers
erected by private enterprise for the same period was 7,797. Owing to the
large number of houses in course of erection by private enterprise, and contemplated,
it is not anticipated that any acute shortage of houses will arise.
There is, in this district, as in any other, a certain number of tenants who
would benefit by the provision of houses at cheaper rents.
(b) Information as to any important changes in population during the period
under review or anticipated in the future.
No information available or anticipated of any important changes in
population, except a steady increase.
(c) Any special difficulties in the way of providing suitable sites for new houses.
No difficulties.
3.—Overcrowding.
(а) Extent—The basis on which the estimate has been made should be stated.
Information as to Housing conditions in the district has been obtained
during visits to houses following cases of infectious disease, house to house
inspection, complaints and other visits such as tc birth notifications.
The basis of calculating overcrowding is that contained in the Model
Byelaws of the Ministry of Health, Scries 13 c (Section 8, Housing Act, 1930),
Part II, and during the year, 23 premises were found to be overcrowded and
these were abated in 18 instances during the year.
(б) Causes—how far is it due to inability to pay the rents of available houses.
There are few houses to let in the district, but these are at a high rental.
Overcrowding occurs in some cases where friends or relatives of occupiers become
sub-tenants with a view to reducing the cost of the occupiers' purchase of the
house.
(c) Example of special action taken during the year 1930 to deal with, overcrowding.
Statutory Notices were served in 23 instances, and in 10 these were complied
with without proceedings being taken. In 6 cases Police Court proceedings
have been taken, and orders were issued (and complied with) for abatement of
the nuisance within periods of 14 days to 1 month. Two cases were dealt
with by County Court summonses, issued by the person on whom the Statutory
Notice had been served. Five cases were still being dealt with at the end of the
year.