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did my best in the house of Commons, when the now Act was under
discussion and before the Grand Committee, to obtain an extension of
the powers under part 2, but with only partial success.
If Mr. Watney's amendment bo carried, a reference back to the
Committee must cause twelve months' delay. During this period the
owners or speculators who will invest in the property, will carry out a
certain amount of alteration and development, and then, if the scheme
is ultimately decided upon, will obtain much higher compensation. It
therefore would bo cheaper, both in life and money, to deal with the
area as a whole and at once. In fact the Committee must consider the
acceptance of the amendment, not only as a direct negative to the proposal
to deal with any part of the area under Part 1, but also as a
distinct resolution that the Council will not undertake any scheme
under Part 1. Moreover, the local authority and the Home Secretary
will have to bo informed of this, and it is more than probable that the
local authority will ask the Home Secretary to appoint an arbitrator
to hold a local inquiry. (See clauses 10 and 73 of the Housing of
Working Classes Art, 1890). The result of such an inquiry in the
case of the Bethnal Green area, where the local authority, the Medical
Officer of the Council, and the responsible Committee of the Council,
are in agreement as to the course to be pursued, would assuredly be
that the Home Secretary would order the County Council to proceed
under Part 1. This view is strengthened by the fact that the late
Metropolitan Board refused to treat the Shelton Street area as a
Metropolitan improvement under Cross's Act, as in their opinion, with
which I agree, it was better adapted to bo dealt with under Torrens'
Act. The Homo Secretary ordered a local enquiry, which resulted in
the late Board being forced to carry out a scheme under Cross's Act.
In my opinion it remains for the Council to decide, whether it would
prefer to act of its own accord without delay, and therefore at a smaller
expense, or to be compelled to act by the order of the Secretary of
State.
lst November, 1890. Compton.
Dr. Longstaff's Opinion.
Memorandum
ON THE
Boundary Street (Bethnal Green) Insanitary Area.
Several official representations by Medical Officers of Health, as to
insanitary areas, have been made to the Council under Cross's Acts,
and the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890.