Organisation Society point to? They both point to compulsory powers being obtained by Local Authorities, for acquiring building sites for working people by the demolition of dwellings unfit for human habitation.
And though I should not presume to sketch in detail a plan by which this course may be adopted, I think I need only point to one or two facts to show that we are, in some respects, in a better position than Glasgow for giving such compulsory powers. The first respect in which I think we stand in a better position is, that we have in our employment Medical Officers who are ready and competent to report, in accordance with the member for Finsbury's Act, that the houses to be removed are unfit for human habitation. That smooths away a great many difficulties; their powers being applied only to the class of houses unfit for human habitation. Sites would thus be obtained, not at an unfair but at their real value. People who had allowed their property to get into a bad condition, and who kept it in a bad condition, would not be able to extort the altogether improperly high prices they now obtain for such property.[1] In another respect I think we should stand better than in Glasgow for the exercise of these powers: the Metropolitan Board of Works, if entrusted with such functions, can issue stock at the moderate rate of 3½ per cent., and are thus enabled to obtain money much more cheaply than the Glasgow authorities could find their 1¼ million.
But I must come to the main difficulty in that part of the proposal which seeks to confer these powers on certain authorities in London. It is objected that we have not got in London a great active reforming Municipal Corporation like that of Glasgow, with powers extending to the whole of the town, and directly representing its inhabitants; and that no doubt is true. I say, without disguise, in presence of my hon. and gallant friend, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board, that I am one of those who call themselves municipal reformers, and who look forward to having, some day, a real Municipal Government for London. (Hear, hear.) I am not satisfied with the Metropolitan Board of Works; and I hope the time will come when we shall have a directly representative corporation governing the whole of the metropolis, and replacing existing bodies.
But I don't think we ought to delay improving the dwell-
- ↑ Houses that do not deserve to be condemned and closed would be bought at their market value.
