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47
Housing of Working Classes.
On 19th July, 1898, Mr. Yezey reported that, in company with Mr. Beasley, he attended
the Conference at the Bermondsey Town Hall, on Friday, the 15th July, upon the subject
of Overcrowding and the Housing of the Working Classes, when the following resolutions
were passed:—
(a) That the London County Council be asked to exercise their power under Part III.
of the Housing of the Working Classes Act to provide'accommodation within the County
of London where required.
(b) That the London County Council be approached with a view to the insertion of a
clause in their General Powers Bill for 1899 to enable Metropolitan Vestries and District
Boards to erect Municipal Dwellings under Part III. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890.
(c) That this Conference is of opinion that the London County Council should contribute
towards the cost of building dwellings for the working classes by local authorities
in London, such contributions to be determined in case of dispute by the Local Government
Board.
(d) That Local Authorities should be allowed to permanently retain and manage any
dwellings for the working classes erected by them, and that the provision of the Section
12 (5) of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, requiring them to sell or dispose
of such dwellings within ten years from the completion thereof unless the Local
Government Board otherwise determine, should be repealed.
(e) That in view of the heavy cost of land in London, and the fact that the value of
such land is more likely to increase than decrease, Local Authorities should not be
compelled to repay the cost of such land out of the income from the dwellings, and that
the period for borrowing for buildings should be extended to 100 years.
On 1st November, 1898, the Vestry, upon the recommendation of the General Purposes
and Works Committee, passed the following resolutions:—
1. That the Yestry approve of resolutions "a, b, c and d."
2. With regard to resolution " e,"