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Housing.
6r
II. HOUSING.
The general situation with regard to housing in this District
was reviewed in my Annual Report for 1921. Though the positionhas
somewhat improved there is still a marked shortage of houses,
particularly of houses for the working classes: difficulties in dealing
with unfit houses and defective housing conditions necessarily
continue.
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation.
Closing Orders were made under Section 17 of the Housing
and Town Planning Act, 1909, in the case of 2 houses.
In one case it became necessary to make application to the
Magistrates for an Ejectment Order. The Order was granted and
the tenants ejected. The premises which were in a very insanitary
condition were thoroughly overhauled and improved; the Closing
Order was then determined. In the second case a Closing Order
having been made in respect of premises not originally constructed
for human habitation, the premises were converted into a lock-up
shop.
A Closing Order made in 1920 in respect of certain premises
was determined during the year 1922, the premises having been
rendered fit for human habitation.
One house, in respect of which a Demolition Order was made
in 1921, has continued to be occupied owing to the difficulty of
finding accomodation for the tenants.
With regard to many houses which are incapable of being
made fully fit and in normal times would be closed at the earliest
opportunity, the procedure has to been require such hcnses to be
so repaired as to be passibly habitable for the time being.
Remedying of Defective Houses.
A very large amount of work has been undertaken during the
year in securing improvement in housing conditions aud has
resulted in the remedying of a high percentage of the defective