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24
Twenty-two houses were erected by the Council in 1902
under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890.
I am informed by the Surveyor that 14 houses suitable for
the working classes were erected during the year.
Towards the end of last year, when the London General
Omnibus Garage was opened, a sudden influx of well-paid artisans
took place into the district, with the result that a somewhat
acute state of affairs arose in connection with housing accommodation.
The matter was brought before the Council and was
considered by the General Purposes Committee. Finally it was
resolved to inform the Local Government Board that having
regard to the large proportion of houses of the working class type
already existing in the district, and to the number of persons of
the working class employed in the district, the Council did not
think that any additional workmen's dwellings were required.
It appears to me that there is a shortage of small houses
suitable for the lower paid workers. I have arrived at this
conclusion on three grounds, namely—
1. From the tendency to raise the rents of small houses.
2. From the small number of empty houses.
3. From the large proportion of small houses allowed
to fall into bad repair.
In order to furnish certain information required by the
Local Government Board, I deemed it advisable to have a census
taken of all the vacant houses in the District. This was carried
out on March 25th last by the Inspectors, each commencing at
7 a.m. and completing the census on that day. The following is
a summary of the information collected, viz.
(a). Total number of vacant premises 255
Houses 198
Houses and Shop 43
Flats 14