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2.— Compensation. It was stated during the discussion that the insanitary
houses would cost under the scheme about £500 each house.
The is is not the case.
The gross estimate for purchasing all the property amounts to
£371,000.
It is estimated that the compensation for trade interests and to
tenants, the purchase of 143 houses and business premises, for which
full value will have to be paid, and the professional expenses, will
amount to £223,000. This leaves for insanitary houses, about 585 in
number, £148,000, or an average of £250 per house.
This valuation is a full valuation. It cannot yet be stated what
view the arbitrators will take of the compensation clauses in the new
Act, but it in hoped that the above total, will be considerably reduced.
Any delay will enable the owners to patch up their houses, so as to
escape the provision in the Act, which, in the case of the worst of the
houses, empowers the Arbitrator to award only the value of the land
and materials. There is a good deal of this patchwork already going on,
which will not make the area less insanitary, but will add considerably
to the expenses It would bo impolitic to go more into details on this
subject, as it is not wise to publish our maximum estimate of possible
compensation to each owner.
3.— It was stated that the owners of the property would benefit by
the widening of the streets. The area now includes 41/8 acres of streets,
exclusive of narrow courts with only one entrance. The largo majority
of these streets are less than 9yards in width.
The proposed now roads would absorb 5¼ acres, and would be arranged
to give perfect air, and ventilation to the whole area.
The owners of adjoining frontages round the four sides of the area
might slightly benefit, but the actual owners of the area would benefit
in no degree. The County Council would receive the benefit, as it
would become the owner of the whole area.
4.—Recoupment. The sum of £106,000 is the estimated recoupment
by the - sale of the land for building purposes. It must be remembered
that the Council will have complete control, and will be able to make
any provision as to the re-building on the site.
5.—Re-hosing those displaced by the Scheme. A report will be presented
and recommendations will bo made to the Council on this
subject if the scheme is approved. The Committee desire to deal with
the urea in sections, so as to cause as little inconvenience as possible
to those displaced under the scheme; and they have reason to hope