Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1884. HOUSING THE POOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6852, 7 May 1884, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1884. HOUSING THE POOR.

The agitation respecting the housing of the London poor, to which we referred some time ago, has been kept up with more persistence than has generally been the case when some phase of the miserable condition of. the poor of the great metropolis has come under public notice. There is reason to hope, too, that the agitation will not be without its effect, though it is doubtful whether as complete a remedy will be effected as the nature of the evil demands. That it is quite possible to provide a remedy is proved by the fact that there are already blocks of tenements in various parts of London and its suburbs designed to suit the means, of the working classes ; but these efforts do not accomplish anything like what is required. It is not alone that the tenements are insufficient in number, but in most instances they are not suitably located. A very large number of the poor of London, from the nature of their modes of earniug a livelihood, are compelled to reside within densely populated districts, where space is of high value, while almost all the "industrial" tenements are erected in what may be termed the suburbs. The problem therefore is how to provide for persons so circumstanced house-room that shall be healthy and within their narrow means, and yet be in proximity to their work. It seems a difficult thing to do, but it is nevertheless contended by those who have taken up the ngitation that it can be accomplished. The Contemporary Meview for February contains articles by three different writers, who, while depicting in forcible terms the miserable condition of the dwellings of the poor in London, endeavor to demonstrate how they can be housed in comparative comfort. One writer, Mr M. G. Mulhall, computes that there are about 250,000 persons in London living in " slums." " There can be no greater mockery," he remarks, " than to tell these sufferers that they must have more self-reliance, that the blame is altogether their own, and that the laws of supply and demand must be respected in house accommodation as in all other things. We have no right to permit 250,000 of our citizens to drag out an existence worse than that of African savages than we should have to empty our work-houses and hospitals tomorrow, and leave the present occupants to perish of want." Mr Mulhall points out that independently of humane consideration for the poor there is an incentive to ameliorate their condition in view of its threatening danger to tke whole community. He proposes that the " slums " should be cleared away, and tenements suitable to the meanß of the persons to be domiciled be erected in various parts of London, either by the State, by tho Municipality of London, by a trust committee, or by a joint stock company. Taking the State first, he mentions that there ia in hand over four millions of money that could be appropriated to the purpose under sanction of Parliament—£3,loo,ooo unclaimed dividends of the National Debt and £1,000,000 Postoffice Savings Bank deposits belonging to unknown owners. " Having thus," he says, "su sum of four millions to begin with, the Government could commence blocks of industrial tenements in various parts of the city, and Parliament could further authorise that, instead of continuing to reduce the National Debt, any surplus moneys or the State be devoted to the same end until the sum of seven millions be expended." In case of the work being carried by the Municipality of London, by a trust committee, or by joint stock companies, the money would have to bo borrowed, and Mr Mulhall thinks that it could be obtained either from the Post office Savings Bank or other public investment funds at a rate of interest that could be very easily paid out of the accruing rents. Another writer, Mr Elijah Hoole, relates what has already been done by companies and others to show the practicability of dealing with the matter in a comprehensive way. In the instances he gives the return upon the capital employed has been fully 5 per cent., while it is computed, that the money could be obtained at 3 per cent., and perhaps at less. "The practical experience of some years," he says "shows that there is no financial difficulty in providing new dwellings for the very poor on the sites of their old rookeries, and even on sites of much greater value. In other words, handsome buildings can be erected in wide thoroughfares to house the class inhabiting single-room tenements, and to yield a fair interest upon the outlay. We give our felons a room each, but our lower working class must live a family in a room. H there were any statistics of the numbers of our London population living thus in single rooms the figures would startle us." The third writer, Mr Alfred Marshall, advocates drastic measures to prevent overcrowding so as to guard against the ever increasing danger with which London is threatened. "To hinder people," he says, " from going where their presence helps to lower the average standard of human life is no more contrary to economic principle than the rule that, when a steamer is full, admission should be refused to any more, even though they themselves are willing to take tho risk of being drowned." Ho suggests that districts which are liable to be overcrowded should bo " proclaimed," and bo placed under the inspection of officers, who should see that proper sanitary regulations are enforced. "Itis a question," he remarks, "whether every house-owner in 'proclaimed' districts should not require a license. Anyho^ those who cannot manage their houses properly, and exercise a due control over the sanitary habits of their tenants, should be fined till they sell their houses to others who can. .... The house room insisted on for each person, and the free space insisted upon between the houses!, should start from a workable level, and

increase steadily and surely till a high standard is attained."