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32 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
rendered more dangerous by the crowded condition as to space both of the house
and the neighbourhood.
It is possible, but in my opinion not in the least probable, that the malady
may have been conveyed in the materials from foreign source used in the patient's
employment.
If the Vestry think that any further action should be taken with regard to this
congested district, the existence of which is specially dangerous in the presence of
infectious disease, I would point out as a first step the necessity of providing better
housing accommodation for the poor of this parish. In my opinion, powers are
already in existence under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act,
1890, whereby the London County Council as Local Authority under the Act are
empowered to provide dwellings for the working classes. The intention of this act
appears to be the relief of overcrowding in poor districts, and it seems clear that it
could hardly anywhere be applied for that purpose more appropriately than in the
parish of St. George's, Southwark.
15th November, 1898.
Special Report on an unhealthy area and vacant sites as the basis of an
official representation to the London County Council with a view to
the better housing of the poor of the Parish of St. George the
Martyr, in accordance with the Council's resolutions of 29th
November, 1898.
Mr. Chairman,
Your attention has been recently drawn to a local congestion of population in
your parish by the occurrence of a case of typhus in a house the conditions of which
showed what there need be little hesitation in describing as gross overcrowding.
The subject is by no means new for it has been before the parish in a more or less
pointed form for some years past. Recent decisions of the London County Council
have brought the whole matter into such prominence that it can hardly be neglected
by the London parishes, much less by those which are inhabited mainly by a working
population.
It may be well to preface my remarks with a short statement as to overcrowding,
which may be considered under the headings of (1) Space, and (2) Housing.
(1) With regard to space, which term is here confined to ground space the
density of population in the whole of London is 58 per acre, whereas in its several
parishes St. George the Martyr comes second on the list with 212 per acre, and
follows Whitechapel with 220 per acre. It is only fair, however, to state that in my
opinion the acreage density of population must be accepted with some reserve as an
ultimate test of over-crowding, because much depends on the class of dwellings
existing on any particular site, especially as regards the size and proper ventilation of
rooms, and the sanitary equipment and maintenance of the buildings generally.
(2) W ith regard to house overcrowding, the following facts are drawn from cases
that have been dealt with by your parish during the eleven months ending 30th
November, 1898.
(a) Specific cases of overcrowding reported by district inspectors and abated.
Ward I. During the 11 months 23
Ward II. „ „ 17
Ward III, „ „
„ „ 14
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