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9
Fund, calling their attention to the vacant land in Lavington
Street, and at the west end of Union Street, belonging to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and inviting them to erect work-
men's dwellings thereupon. The Secretary of the Peabody
Trust replied, stating that having resolved to pay off the large
amount still due from them to the Public Works Loan Board
before extending their operations, they were unable to enter
into negotiations for the purchase of the vacant land in
question, and the Secretary of the Guinness Fund stated that
he had visited the sites to which his attention had been called
and found the same to be near the bridges and in a good
position for men whose work was in the City; but, on writing
to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners as to the terms of purchase
their demands were such as to render it impossible, in his
opinion, for the Trustees to build dwellings of the kind referred
to and let the rooms ,at low rentals, without risk of incurring
a loss. The Board also caused a letter to be addressed to the
London County Council, requesting that Authority to exercise
its powers under the Housing of the Working Classes Act,
1800, for the erection of workmen's dwellings in the District.
The correspondence above mentioned was referred to the
Sanitary Committee J and, on their recommendation, the Board
caused a further letter to be written to the London County
Council, asking the Council to promote a Bill in Parliament,
or otherwise obtain Parliamentary powers to compel the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners to sell, at a valuation, such of
their land in the Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, as might
be required for the e rection of workmen's dwellings, on the
grounds following, viz.:—
"That the Ecclesiatical Commissioners, being large freeholders in
the Parish, ask. such an excessive price for their land, as to prevent
tii.' Motion of workmen's dwellings, and that much land
that was recently covered with houses is now lying vacant."
They also directed that a letter be sent to Mr. Causton, M.P.,
requesting him to move a resolution in the House of Commons
to the following effect:—
"That, in the opinion of this House, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
should bo compelled to sell such vacant land in the Parish
of St. Saviour, Southwark, as may be required for workmen's
dwellings at a fair market value, to be decided by valuation.
In May, a circular-letter was received from the Limehouse
Board of Works, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by
them, as follows:—
"That, having regard to the fact that there are in the District several
plots of land, with or without houses thereon, for which no
owners can be found and which are used for suchpurpose as to
cause them to be a nuisance to the neighborhood, the London
County Council be asked to obtain Parhamentay power
enable the local authority to take possession of such land a
houses for the benefit of the ratepayers.
Vacant
Land, &c.