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41
HOUSING
The housing conditions in the district remain unsatisfactory.
There are still a number of cases of legal overcrowding, but no
remedy can be found so long as the present shortage of houses
exists. These cases have been duly reported to the Public Health
Committee and a special report on all known cases was presented.
The Public Health Committee recommended the appointment of a
special Officer for a period of three months, to report on certain
areas, in order to get a real picture of the overcrowding. This was
negatived by the Council.
Moral overcrowding is much more frequent and produces more
discontent than actual overcrowding where there is no difficulty
with regard to mixing the older children with parents.
There appears to be amongst a section of the population, les
reluctance to live in close contact with others in small tenements
than before the war, mainly brought about by the stress of war
conditions. There is no doubt that in some of the families, the
condition under which they live is having a really deleterious effect
on the health of the children.
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.
(c) How far defects are due to the lack of proper
management and supervision by owners :
The defects found are in the main, due to owners
neglecting to have repairs carried out.
(2) Action taken as regards unfit houses under :
(a) Public Health Acts See appendices.
(b) Housing Acts ,,