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68
HOUSING.
Prior to 1914 there was an abundance of five- and six-roomed
cottages in all the Wards, letting at rentals of 7s. 6d. to 9s., and flats of
three or four rooms at 5s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per week.
At the census of 1911 it was found that of the 26,399 "separate
occupations" 24,110 came within the £26 yearly limit, so that the area
is practically covered by working-class dwellings.
The houses are generally modern and convenient, and have been
erected under the supervision of the Building Inspectors and in conformity
with the local Building Bye-Laws.
According to the Census of 1911, there were 1,207 empty "buildings
used as dwellings."
These were returned by the Overseers as 1,606 by reckoning each
tenement as a separate unit for the purposes of habitation.
In 1914 these numbers, from the return of the Overseers, had fallen
to 547, although in the meantime over 1,000 houses had been erected,
thus showing a considerable migration of persons into the District owing
to the changes produced by the extension of factory premises.
From the figures given by the Health Visitors as to the number of
persons living in one and two rooms there is considerable overcrowding
in the District, although the Sanitary Inspector reported only 28
instances.
What its extent is cannot be appreciated until house-to-house inspection
can be thoroughly undertaken, but the fact that there is not a single
empty house in the area, apart from appeals from householders for
ampler accommodation for their families, is sufficient for this statement.
Up to the end of May, 1921, the Council, under its building scheme,
had completed 30 houses, which were immediately let, and had in
course of erection 289 others.
The total amount of land acquired by the Council for building
purposes is 179 acres, and it is anticipated that the number of houses
to be completed by the end of 1922 will be, probably, 550.