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64
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
A considerable amount of difficulty has been experienced in its
disposal and the production of an effluent satisfactory to the Lee
Conservancy.
I have visited the Farm on various occasions, but at no time could
I detect any nuisance, and the effluent from the land and the contact
beds was quite clear and bright at my visits.
That its chemical composition did not always attain a high standard
of purity can be gauged by the proceedings taken against the Council
in May, but as the Council showed that every effort possible was made
to deal with it properly, the summons was withdrawn by the Conservancy.
Negotiations have now been in progress for a considerable time with
the London County Council for the reception of the sewage of this
district into London's Main System, and there is every likelihood that
such a solution of our sewage difficulty is not far off.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
As stated in previous reports, there is an abundance of cheap houses
for the working classes in this district.
Everywhere five and six-roomed cottages are to be rented for
7s. 6d. to 9s. weekly, and flats of three or four rooms for 5s. 6d. to 6s.
For a labourer with a large family, the part invalid, the widow with
children, and the man with irregular employment, the accommodation
is not good, and consists chiefly of tenements in the older districts, and
the cottage that served one family well is let to two such tenants to
the disadvantage of the house, the occupiers and the district.
During the year I received a large number of requests from owners
of these houses to certify for them under the Customs and Revenue
Acts for the remission of inhabited house duty. It is but seldom I
have done so, owing to the want of proper provision for food storage
and adequate sanitary conveniences.
No action was taken under the Housing of the Working Classes
Acts.
There are no registered lodging-houses in this district.