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Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southward.
We have heard denounced, times out of number, and in the strongest terms, the ???
of the holders of small property, as being most selfish, and they themselves the most ???
tent and obstinate opponents of sanitary measures and improvements; and moreover, ???
this class formed a considerable portion of our Vestries. However this may be, they ???
claim a monopoly to the unenviable distinction. Amongst them may be included
possessors of broad acres and vast domains. A lordly owner, holding property of a
wretched and dilapidated kind, in one of our busy northern towns, not only would tal???
step to improve it, but opposed strongly any steps being taken in that direction. As???
of the meetings of the sanitary authority of the town, the question was asked the M???
Officer of Health, if nothing had been done to hotter the condition of the property. "V???
was the answer, "but a mistake had been made, for the pigs had bora turned out, w???
the pigs ought to have remained, and the tenants have been turned out." Another
occurred, in which the owner held the same high title and position in the land. A nur???
of his tenants and workmen were living in unreined, foul, ruinous houses, altoge???
unfit for human habitation, and quite inferior to the stables and kennels in which
Lordship kept hie horses and dogs. Nothing could be done by the Town council,u???
his Lordship would either build upon the land, or sell it; and if the latter, promise
no mining operations should be carried on beneath. His Lordship would M make no pro???
except to let the land, stating that the Town Council must take all the risk of dange???
the structures, should mining operations be carried on. The mines, I may add, ???
almost valueless. Yet at this time his Lordship was spending vast sums of money on
restoration of a Cathedral. We may hope that upon the historic page of that Cathed???
whilst the munificence of this donor is largely displayed, some small apace may be eel as
whereon may bo given the account of the condition in which his tenants were then liv???
We have, in this case, a dead stone Cathedral, passing in interest and care, tha bea
hearts and thinking braina of men.
I would here remark, that much of the small-claas property ia placed in the hand
Agents. and who neither hold nor cultivate any interest in the welfare and comfor???
the tenants. To get the most rent with the least possible trouble and outlay, seem
comprise their whole duty (of course there are exceptions.) How much better in all resp???
would it be, that the Owner himself should give some personal supervision to his proper
and to the state of those who dwell in it. That he should ascertain their wants, liste???
their complaints, manifest sympathy with and for them, and show by word and deed, ???
there exists between them and him a bond greater and higher than that of money, eat
human bond. One who has had a very large experience with the lower and lowest ???
tenants, gives it as her opinion, that when we can induco the rich to undertake the du???
of landlord, in poor neighbourhoods, and ensure a sufficient amount of the wise, pese???
superintendence of educated people acting as their representatives, we achieve results ???
are not attainable in any other way. And that houses have not to be dealt with a alone,
houses in connexion with their influence on the character and habits of the people who I
in them. For as she truly adds, that repairs and all that is deemed necessary to put the
in a sanitary condition, may be carried out. yet a few weeks may see them passingvag???
into their neglected and foul condition, from the bad aad careless habits of those ???
occupy them (Octavia Hill).