View report page

29
refusal to let furnished rooms to families with children. It is
almost a universal statement of those in the overcrowded premises,
that having made repeated attempts to obtain accommodation
elsewhere they have been immediately refused as soon it was known
that there was a family of children.
It is true that to a certain extent people have become
accustomed to sharing a house with other families, but the Minister's
statement, that overcrowding does not exist to a serious extent
would appear from the reports given by my Health Visitors to be
incorrect, if moral overcrowding is taken as a standard and not
legal overcrowding.
SHOPS ACTS.
The number of contraventions of the Acts which were reported
during the year was as follows:—
Open on half-holiday 5
Open after closing hour 2
Notices not exhibited 32
Notices not in prescribed form 2
Notices (Assistants) not exhibited 4
PROCEEDINGS.
Proceedings were taken during the year in respect of:—
(a) re-letting of a house in respect of which a Closing Order was
in force, and (b) the sale of non-exempted articles after the legitimate
closing hour. In the case of (a) a fine of £10 was imposed upon
the owner and (b) a fine of 10/- and costs to the extent of £1:1:0
was imposed.
HOUSING.
I. Fitness of Houses.
(1) (a) General standard of Housing in the district :
As already stated, the general standard is unsatisfactory.
(b) General character of defects found to exist in unfit
houses:
Dampness due to want of proper damp-proofing,
inadequate lighting and ventilation and general
dilapidation are the main defects found.