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Villadom is that if they have the slightest suspicion
of anything being wrong they at once write a letter of complaint
or requisition the services of the Inspector by telephone.
There is an important aspect for consideration, and that is
that the large majority of the houses in the Borough are of the
six-roomed cottage type mostly, occupied by artizans and
workers engaged in the City. It must be remembered that in
1881 there were under 2,000 houses then existing; in 1891,
under 6,000; in 1901, 16,000; to-day there are 26,000. It will
be noticed that 16,000 houses are 10 years old, and about 6,000
houses are 20 years old. Judging from observation during my
Inspectorship, together with the character of the buildings
which have been erected, one may, I think, express the opinion
that the first ten years' life of the houses is the best, but after
that period repairs become necessary, and dilapidations more
frequent. In reviewing the past together with the number of
houses built, it will be gathered that the district is comparatively
new, and systematic house to house inspection hardly necessary,
but these conditions cannot always prevail, and undoubtedly a
great deal more time and attention must be given to this most
important department of the work in the future. How it is to
be done with the same number of Inspectors one cannot plan
at the moment, but I feel it my duty to draw attention to it.
It is futile to make inspections, unless there is time to follow
up the work necessary for the abatement of the nuisances which
have been set forth in the Notices served, by personal
inspectorial supervision; and it is here where there is a great
expenditure of time, but time that is well spent and cannot be
dispensed with.
Housing,Town Planning, &c. Act, 1909.—In September, 1910,
the Local Government Board drew attention, by printed
circular, to the duty of the Local Authority under this Act
previously referred to in the paragraph dealing with House to
House Inspection.
The Local Government Board have by virtue of the
powers vested in them by Sub-section (1), of Section 17, of the
Housing,Town Planning, &c. Act, 1909, issued a code of