LONDON SLUMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4685, 9 April 1924, Page 1

LONDON SLUMS.

NEW DWELLINGS NEEDED. FOR 100,000 PEOPLE. Tn a lecture on London slums the members of the London Society Lieutenant-Colonel Cecil B Levita, chairman of the L.C.C. Housing Committee, said there had been an Increase in tlie working class population without a corresponding increase in suitable accommodation, ’"he general condition of housing n London, he said, was inferior to that of other large towns. Bad tenants frequently induced slum conditions, and in carrying out a reconstruction scheme there was generally found a residue of such people that baffled efforts at rehousing. Dealing with slum clearances in Loudon, Lieutenant-Colonel Levita pointed out that nearly 1000 acres, containing approximately 100,000 people. remained to be dealt with. The shortage of houses was such that not only must an equal amount of uncrowded accommodation be provided io take all who had been displaced, but progress in slum clearance was almost at a standstill pending the provision of new accommodation. The Rent Restrictions Act was at present a barrier to expanding industrialism, hut on its disappearance a large number of slum dwellers undoubtedly would be dishoused, .and it was harJ to see whore they could go without aggravating the evil condition cf other overcrowded slums. Since a remunerative rent was not forthcoming. the increased housing shortage must be made good under existing conditions at the public expense. Lieut.-Colonel Levita urged that legislation was urgently required to solve ihc problem of London’s slums.