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fails to report such area, or represents that in his opinion the
area is not unhealthy, the complainants may appeal to the Home
Secretary, who shall, on security being given for the costs, order
an inquiry to be made.
The expenses of the Local Authority, after allowing for the
sale of the property acquired, is to be defrayed from the rates, and
the Local Authority may borrow money on the security of the
rates to defray expenses under the Act.
By the Act of 1879, the amount to be paid in compensation is
limited to the value of the premises after deducting any expenditure
that might be chargeable to abate a nuisance, if the premises
are in such a condition as to be a nuisance within the meaning of
the Acts relating to nuisances.
It will be seen from the foregoing epitome that extensive powers
already exist for dealing with dilapidated houses and unhealthy
areas, but the enormous cost of carrying the Acts into execution,
and the length of time required for the various proceedings, have
seriously restricted their operation. In all large towns, moreover,
there will always be found a number of houses not sufficiently
bad to be condemned as unfit for human habitation, and yet
scarcely meeting modern requirements for dwellings. Such cases
receive constant attention from the Sanitary Officers, but the
remedies obtainable under the Nuisances Removal Acts are usually
but temporary. A more summary mode of dealing with defective
houses would no doubt be advantageous, but probably no remedy
will be really effectual which does not recognise the necessity of
raising the moral standard of the people, while also providing them
with the means of living decently.
The Sanitary Committee have devoted a considerable amount of
time to the consideration of the subject, and inspected the most
crowded district of the Parish. They have also requested the
Medical Officer of Health to at once report any case coming under
his notice, which may be dealt with under these Acts.
A large number of the poorer working class have been displaced
by the improvement now being carried out in Little Pulteney