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18
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1870.
This Act has been put in force in Kingston
with the results shown in table D. These results
are not as satisfactory as might be wished, because
clever, though seemingly stupid, persons can during
the period which the report is passing from
Committee to Council, or to Court, do just
sufficient in the way of repair to persuade tenderhearted
magistrates that they are doing their best.
Other more cunning owners do these little repairs,
and so keep just above the level of badness that
enables the sanitarian to make a statement on oath
condemning the premises as injurious or dangerous
to health. Bye-laws for houses let in lodgings
have been approved by you, and merely await the
confirmation ot the Local Government Board, and
with this aid it is to be hoped that more satisfactory
progress may be made, though it is difficult to see
how an already overworked Sanitary Inspector is to
find time for the inspections.
Common Lodging Houses.
These have all been frequently inspected. I
regret to say that although three have disappeared
from the Back Lanes a new one is threatened in
Norbiton. This is a very paying business, and the
law needs strengthening so that Sanitary Authorities
may be given powers not only for more stringent
regulation, but also for limitation of the number
of such houses.
Cowsheds.
Three cowkeepers whose cowsheds were
overcrowded have been called upon to comply
with the regulations.