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conditions perfectly fair and reasonable towards landlords
of small property. The Vestry rejected it, I
believe,from want of due appreciation and consideration
of its intent and purpose, for if prudently carried out,
it is one means of attacking the evils of over-crowding.
Houses let and sub-let to more than one family
under certain circumstances, are endangering life, and
ought no longer to be without sanitary supervision.
Very little hopes can be entertained of checking
the progress and spread of epidemic maladies, and of
reducing the high mortality in children, until a statutary
law shall make it penal to let out houses deficient in
what is essential for a healthy dwelling. All landlords
of house property in cities who desire to let and sub-let
houses to more than one family, ought to be furnished
with a licence from the Surveyor or Health Officer of
the district, indicating the number of persons that might
safely be permitted to occupy any house or rooms. It
would exonerate them from blame, and the penalty
would fall upon the tenants for illegal and dangerous
over-crowding. It would be easy to define what are
the essential requirements for domestic and civic health
in respect of any description of household accommodation,
or any room of a house. Adequate means for
obtaining pure water; efficient ventilation by windows,
fireplace and staircase ; means for the removal of dirt,
refuse, and slops ; good drainage and w.c. accommodation
; a receptacle for food and fuel—are all essential
requisites of a healthy dwelling. No house ought to
be certified as fit for habitation until made so, and others
not certified ought to be kept closed as unfit for human
habitation No reform in the dwellings of the labouring