THE PRINCE ON HOUSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 6

THE PRINCE ON HOUSING.

■» — ENERGETIC SPEECH ON THE NEED OP A SOLUTION. The Prince of Wales made a speech at the opening of tho Boundary-street Estate, I3ethn.il Green, recently, that will do much , to stimulate a solution of the housing problem, The area of the estate was until recently tho most horrible slum district in London. Three hundred years ago the garden of a nunnery, it was during the 200 years before 1890 covered with buildings, many streets being built at the time of Trafalgar. Part of it was " The Jago," described in Arthur Morrison's book, and it was " a sink of iniquity and a forcing-house of crime." The district, 15 acres in extent, is now a model town, with healthy blocks of buildings possessing much architectural merit, divided by the wide streets, with a central garden. Where 5700 people lived in indescribable filth and degradation, 5380 will now dwell in cleanly and respectable abodes. There are 925 tenements in place of 730 houses, with a central laundry, baths, clubrooms, playgrounds, and avenues of trees. Shops and workshops are also provided. To this regenerate spot the Prince and Princess of Wales drove, cheered by thousands as they passed along Shoreditch. The streets were hung with flags, and there was great rejoicing over tho Royal visit. Their Royal Highnesses were received by Lord Welby, chairman of the County Council, and after passing through several streets of the estate, entered a large reception tent, which was crowded with county councillors and ladies, but to which none of the prospective tenants of the estate were admitted. They stood outside in thousands, and during the three-quarters of an hour of the proceedings, sang and cheered incessantly, at times nearly drowning the voices of tile speakers within. The Prince and Princess were escorted to a platform, where the Prince shook hands with Lord Rosebery, Mr. Ritchie, and the Bishop of London, while the Princess bowed in acknowledgment of the hearty reception. Lord Welby presented the Prince with an album illustrative of thes cheme, and then made a comprehensive statement of the work. He said that the earnest labours of the Royal Commission of 1884, of which the Prince was an active member, laid the foundation of the housing schemes of the County Council The Council had housed and were housing 42,000 people at a cost of over £2,000,000. But they were only at the fringe of a question which had to be solved. The Prince, in reply, delivered with a ring of much earnestness, said that there was no question at the present time of greater social importance than the housing of the working classes. They must all sympathise with those who 'lamented that greater progress had not been made with the solution of the difficulties which surrounded the question. No one knew better than the County Council and the committee entrusted with the work what those difficulties were. It was to be feared that the very Acts designed to combat existing evils might themselves give rise to results not foreseen. " But," added the Prince, " one thing is certain— the difficulties have to be surmounted. lam satisfied not only that the public conscience is awakened on 'the subject, but that the public demands, and will demand, vigorous action in cleansing the slums which disgrace our civilisation, and the erection of good and wholesome dwellings such as those around us. and in meeting the difficulties of providing house-room for the working classes at reasonable rates by easy' and cheap carriage to not distant districts where rents are reasonable." Having referred to the deep interest which he had taken in the housing question ever Since 1884, the Prince paid a tribute to the committee of the Council, and to Lord Rowton and Lord Iveagh for their efforts in solving it. Lord Nelson's captains, he said, had a so.xy fate when their names were borrowed to distinguish the streets and lanes of the foul area which those fair buildings had replaced. It was most satisfactory that tho County Council, so soon after its constitution, should have cordially co-operated with the vestries of Bethnal Green and Shorediteh in rooting out a nest of vice and disease, and replacing the miserable courts and allays and insanitary and filthy houses with excellent buildings designed to provide comfortable houses for tho working people, (Loud applause.) The sum expended was large, but not large in proportion to the benefits secured, for instead of some thousands of persons living under gravo insanitary conditions, dying at a rate of forty'in a thousand a year, breeding disease not only prejudicial to themselves but constituting a danger to the whole of London, they had a population of almost the same size living under conditions which were in every way favourable to health and comfort. Having noted the active steps taken by the Council in urging the railway companies to provide additional facilities for working men residing in the suburbs to travel to and from their work, His Royal Highness expressed his pleasure that the Council was providing light railways and new tramways, and erecting a outage settlement. Then came a personal vein. " I hope," continued the Prince," that the Legislature may be able to deal with the case of those who arc responsible for insanitary property. No one knows better than I do the difficulties with which the London freeholder is surrounded. lam the nominal owner of some property in Lambeth, but I have, unfortunately, no control over it—(a laugh)—though the public think it is my own. At this moment, in fact, lam powerless, as a portion of the property is let on leases, on lives, and tho other part under a special Act of Parliament, which does not expire until 1909. " I am aware that the Government is contemplating some much-needed reform in this great and difficult problem, and I should gladly welcome any legislation which would give landlords back, under proper conditions, the power over their property with which they should never have parted, and which would enable me to see the tenants residing on mv Lambeth property as happy, as comfortable, and as well cared for as'l am able to say they are in Norfolk." (Loud applause.) Mr. D, S. Waterlow moved, and the Bishop of London seconded, a vote of thanks to the Prince and Princess. There were loud cries of" Rosebery," but His Lordship would not speak, although the Prince motioned to him to step forward. The vote was carried with acclamation, and the Prince, in reply, formallv declared the estate open. The Prince and Princess before leaving inspected one of the blocks of buildings. They were loudly cheered as they drove away,