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19
Housing.
houses. A plan was submitted showing that by the demolition of
six houses much more air space could be obtained.
West Road was dealt with more on account of general
untidiness, due to litter and want of proper ash bins.
Stanton Road and Beechcroft Road were reported upon as
examples of houses turned into flats without proper sanitary equipment,
such as a self-contained flat should contain.
It must be borne in mind that unless the regeneration of slum
areas goes hand in hand with Town Planning and new Building
Schemes, there is no hope whatever of getting a result even
approximately approaching Garden City Schemes.
Many of the Council's Schemes are maturing, or about to
mature, and it is hoped that the gross cases of overcrowding
occasionally coming to our notice will soon cease to exist. It is
very remarkable that Infectious Diseases have not been more
prevalent than they are, since the two great factors, overcrowding
and lowered resistance, have been and are still with us.
It is, however, more than probable that the evil results have
manifested themselves in a more subtle way in the shape of
premature births, marasmus, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
In my opinion, the rules laid down for cubic space in living and
sleeping apartments and schools are antiquated, and hold that a
growing child requires as much fresh air as an adult, and that
every one should breathe 3,000 cubic feet of pure air per hour, or
1,000 cubic feet thoroughly changed three times in the hour.
Accessory Means of Ventilation (simple and inexpensive)
should obtain in every habitation by day and night.
Special Housing Work in 1919 comprises the following:—
HOUSING ACT, 1909.
Complaints were received from householders re structural
defects in seven cases.
Under Section 17 of the same Act, 80 dwelling-houses were
inspected, 28 of these were considered unfit for human habitation.
None of these were rendered fit, but are awaiting Closing Orders
when more houses are available.