View report page

9
But it may be fairly asked, how are the numerous unhealthy tenements
before spoken of to be dealt with ? The Legislature has long felt the importance
of affording facilities for providing better habitations for the poor, and
has passed several Acts for that purpose. In 1851, the Labouring Classes
Lodging Houses Act was passed, which vested powers in certain local
authorities, for the purpose of facilitating the erection of lodging houses for
the labouring classes. In 1866, an Act was passed to enable the Public
Works Loan Commissioners to make advances towards the erection of
dwellings for the labouring classes. These two Acts are to be read and
construed together, as if they were one Act. In 1867, an Act was passed
to amend the above recited Acts; and, finally, in 1868, the Artizans and
Labourers Dwellings Act was passed.
The three former mentioned Acts, being only of a permissive character, are,
consequently, of little or no use; and the latter, although containing apparently
stringent and compulsory clauses, has, as yet, been of comparatively little
benefit in clearing away property unfit for human habitation, or in causing
the unhealthy dwellings occupied by working men and their families to be
improved. The Nuisance Removal Act of 1855, imperfect as it is, is the
only Act which is put in force to obtain an order from the magistrate to
compel the owner to close a house, which, in the judgment of the magistrate,
upon proof being adduced, is unfit for habitation. But the order for compelling
the owner to close a house is rarely applied for. Few persons,
and especially the owners of house property, will believe that a house is
unfit for habitation; and it is difficult, nay, it is almost impossible, to convince
them on the subject, owing to their unwillingness to be instructed in
any matter which is at variance with their pecuniary interests.
Several plans for improving the dwellings of the labouring classes have
been laid before the public. The first that I shall mention is that recommended
by some philanthropists to form additional voluntary societies for
the building of healthy and cheap habitations for the working classes. Two
of these societies have been in existence for about twenty-six years, and
although some good has doubtlessly been afforded by their benevolent
exertions, yet, their work has been carried on with insufficient means to
effect any material improvement in this vast Metropolis. The next plan
which has been in operation for a few years, on a very limited scale, is that
of building houses of a cheap yet healthy character, in the suburbs of
London, and in obtaining facilities from a railway company to provide cheap
trains at certain hours for the special accommodation of the artizan class who
reside in these newly-erected houses.
The third plan which has been put forward for improving the habitations
of the poor, is that the local authority should have the power of
expending the public rates, in converting privies into waterclosets. Such a