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62
Housing.
conditions discovered in the course of inspection by the Sanitary
Staff.
Of 609 houses inspected, defective conditions were discovered
in 454: the number of these dwelling houses rendered fit by
informal action was 359. It became necessary to take action
under Statutory Powers in respect of 48 houses, action being taken
under the Public Health Acts in respect of 15 of them, and under
Section 28 of the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1919, in the
case of 33 : of the former all, and of the latter 25, were rendered fit.
As many as 4250 visits of inspection were made by the
Sanitary Inspectors in connection with this work.
Increase of Rent, etc. (Restriction), Act, 1920. The
Sanitary Inspector reports that 5 applications for certificates under
the above Act were received, and in each case a certificate was
granted.
Overcrowding.
Owing to the almost entire cessation of building in this
District for four years during the War, overcrowding became very
much increased. During the past two and-a-half years, however,
much has been done to reduce this evil. There still remains a
good deal of overcrowding in certain areas, aad some serious overcrowding
in many of the houses occupied by the working-classes.
A large number of houses originally intended for occupation by one
family became, during the War, occupied by two or three families,
and many of these are still so occupied. A large number of families
formerly so housed, are now living under quite suitable conditions
in the 142 houses erected by the Council under their Housing
Scheme. During the past year 20 of the more serious cases of
overcrowding were relieved by the families being allotted Council
Houses, these being families with two or more children, who, most
of them, previously occupied one room only. Three other serious
cases of overcrowding were abated by the families themselves
obtaining accommodation elsewhere. There is still a considerable
shortage of houses, and necessarily overcrowding must continue
until more houses are erected.