View report page

17
In dealing with houses under these Acts great
difficulties and delays arise. The first report referred
to me related to Martha court, and the report of the
Medical Officer stated:—"These are small two-roomed
"houses, built back to back: they are all more or less
"damp and dilapidated. The flooring of the lower
"rooms is from eight to twelve inches below the level
"of the forecourts; the roofs in some instances are
"leaky, and the walls and ceilings of the rooms are
"(with the exception of No. 1) in a filthy condition.
"Houses constructed back to back in this manner
"cannot be properly ventilated. The forecourts are
"badly and insufficiently paved, and there are only two
"water closets for the eight houses."
On referring to Section 6 of the Artizans and
Labourers' Dwellings Acts, 1868, I find the instructions
to the Surveyor or Engineer defined as follows:—
"To consider the report so furnished to him, and
"report to the Local Authority what is the cause of the
"evil so reported on and the remedy thereof, and if
"such evil is occasioned by defects in any premises,
"whether the same can be remedied by structural
"alterations and improvements or otherwise, or whether
"such premises, or any, and what part thereof, ought
"to be demolished."
Being anxious as far as possible to meet the views of
the Medical Officer, I addressed to him the following
letter:—
Gth February, 1888.
Dear Dr. Bate,
I have been considering your reports on "Houses unfit for
human habitation," and before examining the properties and preparing
my report on the subject, should like to clear up one or two
points. I see that I am required to state "The cause of the
evil reported on, and the remedy thereof." Now, in the report
relating to Martha Court the principal points seem to be: