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in fact been extended from time to time as regards housing; indeed,
Circular 1138 of August 18th, 1930, of the Ministry of Health,
states with regard to the Housing Act, 1930,
"To meet the economic difficulty of rehousing the poorest inhabitants
of the slums at rents which they can afford, increased financial assistance
on a new basis has been provided. This will be available in aid of the
expenses of the Local Authority in 'rehousing' persons displaced not only
from clearance and improvement areas but also from individual houses
which are demolished."
"It is contemplated that Local Authorities will take full
advantage of the financial assistance under the Act of 1924 to meet their
ordinary housing needs, while the assistance which the new Act provides
will enable them to meet the economic difficulty which at present prevents
a proportion of the dwellers in unhealthy areas and in insanitary houses
from moving to better homes.''
Some of the difficulties that have been experienced will be
found described in my report on Housing on page 122. It will also
be seen from my report that a really adequate programme of
"Clearance" schemes for the Borough has been approved by the
County and Borough Councils, and under the Housing Act, 1930,
rehousing accommodation must equal that demolished. Not only
will the demolition of so much worn-out and badly planned houses
be a great improvement to the Borough, but the provision of
adequate decent housing will enable parents to separate their elder
children according to sex and to avoid the necessity in some cases of
keeping growing children in their parents' bedrooms, which it is
thought often results in much emotional damage to children, and
the mental strain which must often verge on the intolerable resulting
from several families living in overcrowded conditions in houses
containing sanitary and other conveniences for only one family;
the elimination of these and other evils must mean improvement in
health and a better outlook generally for the rising generation.
On December 17th, 1930, the Housing Committee reported to
the Borough Council that the London County Council had agreed
to include in the provisional programme to be submitted to the
Minister of Health under the Housing Act, 1930, the Duncan
Square, Warburton Square, Morning Lane and Northwold Road
areas, which I had represented on November, 26th 1929, under the
1925 Housing Act, the County Council having agreed to deal with
these areas, but action having been held up by the new Housing
legislation. The Borough Council also agreed, on the recommendation
of the Housing Committee, to deal with Abbot Street,
Banister Street, Berkshire Road, Broadway, Clarence Terrace,
East Street, Elsdale Street, Fulham Place, High Hill Ferry,
Middlesex Wharf, Nisbet Street, Otley Terrace, Pear Tree Court
and Queen's Court areas as Clearance Areas under the Housing
Act, 1930.