With regard to the Labouring Classes Lodginghouses Acts, these Acts provide the means by which any parish, with a population of 10,000 persons, or two or more neighbouring parishes in combination, having an aggregate population of not less than 10,000 persons, may constitute commissioners for the purpose of providing lodging-houses for the labouring classes. The commissioners may purchase or rent land, and on such land erect buildings suitable for lodging-houses for the labouring classes, and convert any buildings into lodging-houses for the labouring classes, and may alter, enlarge, repair, and improve the buildings, and may fit up, furnish, and supply them with the requisite furniture, fittings, and conveniences. The commissioners may also contract for the purchase or lease of any lodging-houses for the labouring classes in their parish, and may appropriate the houses to the purposes of the Acts with such additions or alterations as they deem necessary.

It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the local authorities have already large powers vested in them for dealing with insanitary dwellings of the labouring classes, and the Board desire to impress upon the authorities the responsibility which consequently attaches to them, and to urge them, by a vigorous exercise of the powers with which they are entrusted, to secure an improvement of the dwellings of the class to which attention has recently been directed. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,

To

HUGH OWEN, Secretary.

the Clerk to the

Vestry or District Board.

SUGGESTIONS FOR REGULATIONS WITH

RESPECT то

HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS, OR OCCUPIED BY
MEMBERS OF MORE THAN ONE FAMILY.

Interpretation of Terms.

1. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions have the meanings hereinafter respectively assigned to them; that is to say—

"Lodging-house" means a house or part of a house which is let in lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family:

Landlord," in relation to a house or part of a house which is let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family, means the person (whatever may be the nature or extent of his interest in the premises) by whom, or on whose behalf, such house or part of a house is let in lodgings or for occupation by members of more than one family, or who for the time being receives, or is entitled to receive, the profits arising from such letting:

"Lodger," in relation to a house or part of a house which is let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family, means a person to whom any room or rooms in such house or part of a house may have been let as a lodging or for his use and occupation.

Exempted Houses.

2. In any one of the several cases hereinafter specified, a lodging-house shall be exempt from the operation of these regulations; that is to say

(a.) Where for the purposes of any rate for the relief of the poor the rateable value of the house exceeds and the rent or charge payable by each lodger, and exclusive of any charge for the use by such lodger of any furniture, shall be such that the amount accruing due in any term shall be at the rate or in the proportion of not less than

week:

per

(b.) Where for the purposes of any rate for the relief of the poor the rateable value of the house exceeds and the rent or charge payable by each lodger, and inclusive of any charge for the use by such lodger of any furniture, shall be such that the amount accruing due in any term shall be at the rate or in the proportion of not less than

week.

per

For fixing the number of persons who may occupy a house or part of a house which is let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family :

For the registration of houses thus let or occupied in lodgings:

For the inspection of such houses, and the keeping the same in a cleanly and wholesome state:

For enforcing therein the provision of privy accommodation and other appliances and means of cleanliness in proportion to the number of lodgings and occupiers,

and the cleansing and ventilation of the common and staircases:

passages

For the cleansing and lime-whiting at stated times of such premises; and

As to ventilation of rooms, and paving of premises ; and

As to notices to be given and precautions to be taken in case of any dangerously infectious or contagious disease.

3. The landlord of a lodging-house shall not knowingly cause or suffer a greater number of persons than will admit of the provision of three hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age exceeding ten years, and of one hundred and fifty cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age not exceeding ten years, to occupy, at any one time as a sleeping apartment, a room which is used exclusively for that purpose.

4. The landlord of a lodging-house shall not knowingly cause or suffer a greater number of persons than will admit of the provision of four hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age exceeding ten years, and of two hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age not exceeding ten years, to occupy, at any one time as a sleeping apartment, a room which is not used exclusively for that purpose.

5. A lodger in a lodging-house shall not knowingly cause or suffer a greater number of persons than will admit of the provision of three hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age exceeding ten years, and of one hundred and fifty cubic feet of free

air space for each person of an age not exceeding ten years, to occupy, at any one time, as a sleeping apartment, a room which is used exclusively for that purpose, and which has been let to such lodger.

6. A lodger in a lodging-house shall not knowingly cause or suffer a greater number of persons than will admit of the provision of four hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age exceeding ten years, and of two hundred cubic feet of free air space for each person of an age not exceeding ten years, to occupy, at any one time, as a sleeping apartment, a room which is not used exclusively for that purpose, and which has been let to such lodger.

7. The landlord of a lodging-house, within a period of after he shall have been required by a notice in writing, signed by the clerk to the nuisance authority, and duly served upon or delivered to such landlord, to supply the information necessary for the registration of such house by the nuisance authority, shall, personally, or by his agent duly authorized in that behalf, attend at the office of the nuisance authority during office hours, and then and there furnish and sign a true statement of the following particulars with respect to such house-that is to say,

(a.) The total number of rooms in the house;

(b.) The total number of rooms let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family;

(c.) The manner of use of each room;

(d.) The number, age, and sex of the occupants of each room used for sleeping;

(e.) The Christian name and surname of the lessee of each room; and