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35
"It hardly seems feasible to anticipate the same rate of
progress during the ensuing year, having regard to the very small
possibilities of acquiring more land for the erection of further
houses within the Borough boundaries.
"The number of houses already erected by the Council are
referred to in detail in the report for 1936. The houses on the
Chestnuts Farm Estate reported therein, are all completed and
occupied.
"It has been abundantly brought to the notice of the Department
when rehousing for the abatement of overcrowding, that
the persons re-housed were those most in need of re-housing from
almost every point of view, that is, they were amongst the very
poorest wage earners and in a very great many cases, unemployment
for a very considerable period was disclosed. Rent relief is
almost inevitable in such cases.
"Re-housing in this scheme has also brought to light many
problems not hitherto met with, at all events in such magnitude.
"Removals have to be arranged, furniture supplied, persuasive
conversation with the principal tenant, and/or his wife, before they
can be persuaded to leave their old surroundings and take up the
much superior accommodation available for theim.
"Considerable guidance has had to be given to the tenant before
the tenancy is commenced, and it is pleasurable to report that a very
large measure of success has been achieved in this direction, tenants
having responded, probably not 100 per cent., but very little short.
Slum Clearance.
"There is only one remaining case on the list for rehousing
under the above scheme, and accommodation required is of the
multi-bedroom type referred to elsewhere.
Accommodation for Cases not Overcrowded.
"No additional accommodation has been provided during the
year for rehousing the aged or elderly couples. Vacancies arising
have been extremely few and such vacancies are invariably offered to
similar types of persons.
"During the year the Council decided to reserve a percentage of
the accommodation available for young married couples. Having
regard to other commitments, however, it was not found possible to
reserve more than one two-bedroom type house for this section of
the community.