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6
3rd.—The Inspection and Control of Lodging
Houses.
This is a question that is becoming of more and
more importance every year. The available land in
the Borough is nearly all occupied and there is great
demand for house room. The very poorest class
has great difficulty in finding accommodation, and in
consequence is apt to crowd into the houses that are
open to this class. Complaints of overcrowding
are frequently made, but it is difficult to prove
such cases without having a fixed standard.
The census for 1891 shows that there are 1638
tenements of four rooms and under, with a population
of 3,276 persons, and although a certain number of
such houses have been pulled down, many of the
newer houses have been brought into similar use.
It will therefore be seen that there is considerable
work to be done in connection with this class of
property, in the regulation of numbers, the amount
of cubic space to be allotted to each individual, as
well as in the inspection of cisterns, and keeping in
good order all sanitary conveniencies. It has been
shown by experience that even the lowest class,
when forced by circumstances to obey certain rules
of decency and cleanliness, after a very short time
acquire a liking for improved sanitary conditions,
and willingly co-operate in keeping their houses and
persons in a cleanly state. Those amongst us whose
duty takes us into this class of property have only
too good reason to know that unless these matters
are attended to the evils cleared away in the
demolition of the old back lanes will re-develop
in other parts of the town.
Scarlet Fever.
There have been two deaths from this disease
during the year. There were 50 notifications, giving
a case mortality of 4. as compared with 1.7 for
the previous four years.