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62
In view of the acute housing shortage, there is considerable
reluctance in making representations under these powers. I am
bound to point out, however, that there are many more houses, the
majority of them occupied, which are rapidly deteriorating into a
condition that will render demolition order procedure inevitable at
no distant date.
Housing Act, 1936, Sections 9 and 10.
Reference to statistics will show that there has been no diminution
in the energy which is being applied to securing the repair of
insanitary houses. It is unfortunate that the results in no way
compensate for the effort expended. The Government have adhered
to their policy that new houses must come first, and that works of
repair, however badly needed, must continue to be deferred. This
policy is emphasised by the restrictions on the availability of
materials and the reduction of the "monetary quota" available to
local authorities for licensing building works.
It will also be seen that there has again been a substantial
increase in the value of work done by the Council in owners' default,
through the medium of private builders. The reason for this may
not at first sight be manifestly clear. But notwithstanding licensing
restrictions, all licensing applications in respect of work required
by statutory notices issued from the Public Health Department
receive immediate priority. It may well be, therefore, that
knowing the difficulty in obtaining labour and materials, owners
are content to leave this problem to the officers of the local authority,
with the result that the work is carried out in default and supervised
by the Sanitary Inspectors at no extra cost to the owners.
Public Health Act, 1936, Sections 92-4.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of notices
served for the abatement of nuisances under the appropriate provisions
of the Public Health Act. Procedure under this part of the
Act has generally been followed where the particular properties are
situated in areas where future action is contemplated under the
Town and Country Planning Act, or Part III of the Housing Act.
A Magistrate's Order has been obtained in all cases where legal
proceedings have been necessary to secure compliance with nuisance
notices.