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126
OVERCROWDING.
Twenty-five cases of overcrowding have been investigated
and dealt with by the service of Notice, as compared with 33 for
the previous year. In each instance the Notice was complied with
by either the occupants moving or the re-arranging of the sleeping
accommodation. Overcrowding is a form of nuisance that is
invariably associated with poverty. Force of circumstances is the
factor that determines how many rooms a family can occupy.
It is not how many rooms are necessary, but how much rent can
be paid out of the family's income.
The effectual remedy is a social problem largely educational
and only time will solve the difficulty.
The serving of notices and harassing of poor people from
house to house is not a solution of the difficulty or the abatement
of the nuisance.
URINALS.
There are twelve public conveniences in the Borough (excluding
those in public parks); four are underground and seven
on the ground level. Special attendants are engaged, whose duty
it is to keep them clean. During the past year two new underground
conveniences in the Barking Road have been opened, which
have accommodation for ladies.
There are also 28 urinals attached to licensed premises
to which the public have access. Many inspections of these conveniences
have been made by the Inspectors. Notices have been
served for the abatement of nuisances in connection therewith, the
principal cause of complaint being insufficient water supply for
cleansing, and light. The want of light is frequently a primary
cause of the abuse to which the urinals are often subjected.
PASSAGES AT REAR OF PREMISES.
Secondary means of access are provided for most of the
business premises in the Borough, and undoubtedly are
found to be of great importance, but unfortunately they are
a serious menace to Public Health. These passages are used in
common by the many whose premises abut; they are invariably
dark and in a dirty condition; where there are gates they are