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47
The building of house3 for the working classes has been almost
at a standstill and only four houses completed during the year
would be included under the term "houses for the working
classes." Several of the local house agents have been good enough
to furnish information as to the demand for and supply of houses
for the working classes.
From these it appears, as would be supposed, that the demand
varies somewhat in different parts of the district.
Cottages from 7s. to 10s. per week have been in considerable
demand especially towards the end of the year, and in the eastern
portion of the district, as also were small villas under £32 per
annum.
There is also some demand for dwellings of the cheapest
character, and sub-letting of portions of a cottage is somewhat
frequently met with.
Separate dwellings at a rent of 6/- per week or less are
becoming less numerous. They hitherto consisted chiefly of old
cottages, many in a condition of dilapidation, and as such are those
which are dealt with by closing orders under the Housing and
Town Planning Act. In many cases such extensive works are
necessary to render them habitable that demolition is usually
preferred. As a matter of fact, forty-six such dwellings have been
demolished, voluntary or otherwise, during the last three years,
and dwellings at a similar rent have not been built to replace them.
The displaced tenants unable to find separate cottages at the
same rent as they formerly paid are compelled, as a rule, to share
a more modern cottage with another family, and although the
drainage and construction are more modern, overcrowding not
infrequently results and is an extremely difficult problem to deal
with.
There has again been a decided tendency to divide up larger
houses, especially basement houses, into dwellings for two or more
families. In some cases proper provision is made for the separation
of the families, but in a large number of cases the houses are merely