MR. CARTERasked the honourable Baronet the Member for North Devon(Sir Thomas Acland), Whether it is true, as stated in "The Times" newspaper on the 30th of March, that many of the houses on the Finsbury Estate belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are in such a filthy and dilapidated state that they are unfit for human habitation; whether 120 of these houses have been closed by order of the sanitary authorities of the district; whether (supposing these reports to be correct) the Commissioners are taking such steps as will effectually remove this state of things; and, further, whether the alleged condition, so far as paving and cleansing is concerned, of Willow Street, Charlotte Street, Paradise Street, and other streets on this estate is to be attributed to carelessness and neglect on the part of the local authorities of the district, or to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?
§ SIR THOMAS ACLANDSir, the statement in The Times of the 30th of March as to the state of the Commissioners' property is not correct; but it is true that when the property came under their management at Christmas, 1867, it was in an extremely bad condition. Immediately after the Commissioners obtained possession of the property they engaged workmen to cleanse and repair such cottages as were capable of being maintained, either for a short time or permanently, and to remove buildings that were dangerous. Many cottages were removed by agreement with the parties to whom agreements for leases were granted, as part of the terms of such leases. It would have been inexpedient to remove so many poor in a short space of time without 101 other buildings being provided. To obviate this, the Commissioners encouraged the erection of model dwellings, and the result of their dealing with their property in the parish of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, may be shortly stated as follows:—About 750 cottages stood upon the property; upwards of 600 are removed. About 20 more are under agreement for removal, some others will follow, and the remainder have been repaired. On part of the land cleared about 500 new convenient residences have been erected; others are in course of erection. In all, about 100 more are agreed to be erected. On other parts of the land cleared of old buildings, a church, schools, and two parsonage houses have been erected. Other improvements are still in progress. With regard to the question whether 120 houses have been closed by order of the authorities of the district, no such orders have been addressed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, nor to their officers. They are aware that proceedings were taken against lessees under them in respect of some cottages; but at that time those lessees were under covenant to remove the cottages, and the Commissioners were taking steps to enforce that covenant for the removal. They are now removed. The paving and cleansing of the streets is wholly under the charge of the local authorities, and no responsibility in that respect rests upon the Commissioners. I desire to state that if any hon. Members wish to satisfy themselves as to what the public spirit of an individual or the energy of a particular corporation can do in the way of substituting, as a matter of business, wholesome dwellings for the poor in one of the worst parts of London, they ought to visit the Finsbury Estate, where they will see that which will give them hopes for their country. I have seen some photographs of the property as it existed before and as it exists now, and with your permission, Sir, I will place them in the Library for inspection.
§ MR. FLOYERAre the 500 houses, which the hon. Baronet mentions as being built, suitable for artizans and the working classes?
§ SIR THOMAS ACLANDI believe they are. I have seen some of them, and I believe they are let at the average rate of 2s. per room. Wages in that part 102 of London are considerable, and I have met with several artizans who are living in these lodgings.