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24 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
crowded parish it is imperative to provide a temporary shelter for persons who have
been exposed to infection and in whose homes disinfection is being carried out. This
principle has been recognised by your Vestry in the foundation of a Reception House
at considerable outlay.
During the year 1898, a total of 149 persons were received ; of that number 66
were adults and 83 children. Considering the difficulty of inducing parishioners to
take advantage of a novel departure of this kind the Vestry may be congratulated on
the foregoing figures, which will in all probability be largely iucroased in the near
future.
Mouse to House Inspection.
The first section of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, directs that a house
to house inspection shall be made by the Local Authority. Such a visitation as that
intended by the framers of the Act, was for the first time in the history of this
Parish, commenced in 1894.
During 1898 such inspections have been made of 1455 houses as against 1300 in
1897 and 1665 in 1890, and the results of such visits have been entered into the
registers kept for the purpose.
To repeat the words made use of lor the last four years, I may perhaps bo
allowed to add my opinion that this system of house to house inspection is likely to
do more towards raising the general health standard of your district than any single
step yet taken by your Vestry.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
So far, 421 dwelling houses, inhabited by the poorest classes, have been registered
in conformity with the Bye-laws.
In this parish, houses built on the so-called "model" or block system, and
accommodating upwards of 12,800 inmates, at present escape the salutary provisions
of the new bye-laws. These dwellings, often inhabited by the uneducated and unruly
poor, are for the most part badly supervised.
I would beg once more to suggest that such "models" should bo included, in
the interests of the public health, within the purview of the new tenement bye-laws.
Such a reform could be accomplished by means of an amendment of the Public Health
Act.
During the past year Miss Elliott has again done good work as regards cleansing
and tho abating of overcrowding, as will be seen by reference to her report.
Falcon Court and Neighbourhood.
Last year I reported that there appeared to be every likelihood that the unwholesome
area of Falcon Court and its neighbourhood would be swept away at an early
date and replaced by an open air-space.
A Local Government inquiry held in 1896 insisted upon the necessity of housing
the population that would be displaced under the scheme. Accordingly
the London County Council prepared plans for the erection of artizans'
dwellings in the Borough Road. These plans were submitted to the Local
Government Board and passed.
Representations were made by your Vestry to the London County Council
pointing out the urgency of the case and the continued delay in carrying out the
proposed scheme. I am now able to report that the foundations of the new buildings
have been laid in the Borough Road. It is to be hoped that before the lapse of
another year this important clearance of an unhealthy area will have been
accomplished.