§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the landlord of a number of small houses in the neighbourhood of Golden Lane, St. Luke's, is trying to drive out his tenants by stripping the roofs of the houses; whether he is aware that the landlord has not applied to the Magistrate in the regular way for an order for ejectment; and whether the landlord is justified in thus exposing the tenants to the inclemency of the weather without an order from the Court? I have also to ask the right hon Gentleman whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of poor tenants in the neighbourhood of Golden Lane, St. Luke's, are being turned out of their houses, the landlord having given the tenants notice to quit, but the tenants, not being able to get other places by the time of the expiration of the notice, the landlord has commenced taking the roofs off, thus causing great suffering from the storms of the past few days; and whether he has any power to take action to prevent the landlord clearing his property in this manner?
§ MR. MATTHEWSDue notice to quit was given to the tenants some five weeks ago, with the result that the better class of tenants have given up possession and have left. The remaining number, who refuse to leave, have, it appears, been tempted to continue in occupation in consequence of the fact that the landlord has not asked for any rent since the notice to quit was given. Arrangements have been made for clearing the site, but only the empty houses have hitherto been pulled down. I am informed that the roofs of the houses still occupied have not been taken off, nor has anything been done, except to remove a gutter which was in danger of falling. No Magistrate's Order has yet been applied for, as empty houses only have been pulled down, but it is proposed to obtain an Order without delay in respect of the 929 houses which yet remain occupied. The houses are being taken down solely for reasons of public health, and in order to comply with the requirements of the Sanitary Laws. Upon these facts the landlord does not appear to have done anything contrary to law.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSIs it not the fact that all the houses in the neighbourhood are of the same class and the same rental; and is it not also the fact that the gutters upon the roofs of these houses have been stripped away and the tiles removed to such an extent that, on Saturday week, the water poured into the houses, and the children had to be taken out of their beds, undressed, and removed to neighbouring houses? Further, is it not the fact that this was done by the landlord without any authority from the Magistrates to evict these people?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have given the hon. Gentleman the whole of the information I am possessed of, namely, that the gutter belonging to seven houses has been removed.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSWas not the gutter deliberately taken away?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have already said so., It was taken away because there was danger that it would fall.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSWas it not taken away deliberately, so that these people might be driven out of these houses?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have made the best inquiry I can, and that is not the information I have received.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMIn taking away the gutter was not the landlord acting beyond his legal right?
§ [No answer was given.]