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A far more extensive scheme for the demolition of small areas
of slum dwellings has been submitted to the Ministry of Health
covering the next five years. The first batch of these clearance
areas involving 78 houses is, at the time of writing, the subject of
public enquiry by the Ministry of Health.
As will be seen by the table on page 95, a very large number
of houses have been dealt with under Scction 17 of the Housing
Act, 1930.
In some instances the Council have had to avail themselves
of the powers relegated to them under Section 18 of the Act of
1930, and have (the owner defaulting) carried out the necessary
work stipulated in the notices, or that part of the work not completed
to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health. This
work has been done at the instance of the Council by private
building contractors.
The Council are at present involved in legal proceedings of
some importance in respect to this procedure, but it would appear
that extreme care must be exercised before taking action under
Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1930, if legal differences of opinion
are not to arise. Considering, however, the volume and nature
of the work accomplished it must be expected that some difficulties
will arise.
There is a very considerable number of houses in the Borough
which should be dealt with under Section 19 (demolition) of the
Housing Act, 1030, but until there is some alternative accommodation
for the tenants who would be displaced, it is not practicable
to make demolition orders. The problem of alternative accommodation
is particularly difficult in these cases, as the type of
house involved is usually in an overcrowded state, occupied by
very poor tenants, who frequently neither attempt nor desire to
obtain other accommodation.
Overcrowding.
Although the state of overcrowding pertaining in the Borough
is common knowledge, I have continually and persistently, year
after year, drawn attention to this evil which is undoubtedly an
extraordinarily difficult problem to solve.
I am of opinion that the abatement of overcrowding is quite
as important as the clearance of slums, for a dwelling, however
well built and hygienic, in itself is obviously insanitary and a
menace to health when grossly overcrowded.
A number of large houses, particularly in the northern
area of the Borough, though by no means slum property are
unhealthy and insanitary because of their grossly overcrowded
condition. Some of these dwellings, which until recent vears
domiciled a single family of some 0—8 people, are now let, sublet,
and re-sub-let until they habitate in some cases as manv as
30 people. Bve-laws relating to houses let in lodgings are
being reviewed to meet these cases. In this connection I am
entirely at a loss to account for the drop of 6,400 in the population
of west Ham as assigned bv the Registrar General.
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