Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-29 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL LAND & HOUSE-OWNERS'

ASSOCIATION.

A public meeting of this association was he,1,1 yester-
day evening in the Clarenlon-rooms, south Jphi-
street,- for the purpose of receiving the. report of the
provisional committee, and electing the officers and
council of the association. Among those present we
obieeved Messrs. Owen ull, James Rowe,
Bremner, Martin, J. B. Hughes, Williams,dhentrell,.J. Harrison,
Smith, Balmer; William Williams, Atherton, Hay,
Geldrick, Denton, Hill; Thompson, Shorthouse, Ho-
worth, Dalton, &c., &e.
Mr. •Owen Williams was called to the chair, on the
Motion of Mr. J. B. Hughes.
• The CHAIRMAN said he regretted. exceedingly to
find himself in that position, seeing there were many
gentlemen present much better qualified to discharge
the duties of chairman of such an influential meeting ;
but ,he would throw himself on their indulgence, and
claim their assistance. He was sure • they would
all agree with him that aggressions had been made
upon property from time to time, and that owners of
property had been passive, but the pressure had come to
that point that many must feel the time had come when
they must be active. He could not but believe that. the
Health. Committee were moved by the very best motives.
He believed that the committee thought they, were
serving the working classes—that they were serving that
dais which was least able to assist themselves,—he
meant that large class numbering 36,000 individuals
who had been moved out of cellars in narrow courts and
narrow streets. • There was no doubt that these people
had been moved, bUt the committee had not stopped to
ask where 'these people were now located. He would
ask the building surveyor if a single house has been
built under the modern legislation, that had been
tenanted by one of those people who had been accustomed
to pay for a cellar from ls. 6d. to 3s. per week.
He felt quite sure that there was not a single'
house built on that principle in which any one
of these 36,000 could now be found. Of course,
the annual report was published and the figures
were 'patent to all ; but he thought that it could
not be shown that these houses were occupied by any of
these poor people. They were to be found in rooms and
garrets, and these rooms had become so crowded that
Rathhone had taken occasion to force the necessity
of the committee looking upon houses so occupied as
lodging houses. The inspector was to be sent with his
bludgeon to try to scatter them again. Where were
they to go to ? They could not go into cellars ; add,
of course, they would have to go to rooms elsewhere.
There was no doubt 'that the Public health had been
much improved of late, and le felt it his duty to explain
how that had come about, and see if the Health Commit-
tee or, their acts had. been the Cause. If gentlemen would
go back to the time when the rale of mortality, was very
greet in this town they would find that the people con-
sumed only 171bs. of sugar per head, while last year
they consumed 3511b5. per head. Tea was only consumed
in 1855 at the rate of '1 lb. 3 oz. per head; while 'in 1858
the consumption was 21bs. 7 usa. per. head. Another
matter wa.s to be looked at to which he asked attention.
BUtehers' meat had gone up 2'd. .per lb. ; bacon, the
poor man's luxury, Was much dearer ; and butter had
gone up 3d. or 4d. per lb. FrOm thatlie considered it
apparent that the purchasing power for these: commodi-
ties had been much improved, and the people had been
better fed and were, consequently, more healthy, so
that the rate of mortality was lower. This was a thing
that was' not found in the speeches of the members of
the Health Committee ; but he considered that the
health, of the people had been much more improved
by the power to purchase those articles than could
have been done by driving the people from garrets
or cellars, or even by draining. Then, Again, they.
were to take the honks , as they were constructed
at present. If the Building Surveyor or the Borough
Engineer would take his .tape-line, and measure from
back to, back of the houses, he should find' that there
was as much space as, from front to front; and if ten
yards were enough for streets, then there was too much
room between the houses at the back. If they wanted
more room for the prupose of. promoting health, they
should make the streets wider. The effect of what the
committee were attempting to do now would not be to
benefit in the slightest degree that great class of
people that were to be found at the Exchange
when an easterly wind -was blowing, or who were
affected by the changes of commerce. Nothing had
been done for this class by the Health Com-
mittee. He would say that the Health Committee
should insist upon houses being built for such people,
or themselves erect "a few model cottages, such
as could be let for 25., 2s. 6d., and 3s. per week.
17ncler the present legislation houses could not be erected
at such rents: It would be impossible for a builder to
build the houses of. the required dimensions, and let
them at such rents,
_even if he did not pay a penny for
the land. It seemed to him that the Health Committee
were teasing and annoying the owners of property for
no object that could lead to any. good. The committee
were not-going to allow any houses to be built in future
unlesS the laud was bored. It was well known that the
land, or a great poition of it, at the North end, which
was built upon, was made land.. 14 was not a matter of
theory or speculation, but he would ask 'the Building
Surveyor to go and look how many of those houses
showed fractures, or how many had given way ;
but supposing a fracture was to be found, the
Health. llommittee had the power to order it to be
made good; or have it taken down if there was danger
to life. That, however, did not appear to be enough for
them. When a house should have given way a little,
the ihopeztrwas-only•A' little -depressed in value,-- but
he maintained ,it was no part of committee's duty to
protect propertk or sustain it in value, inure than it was
for them•to-sarthata-person should not invest-in-Great
Eastern shares. Again, it was required thitt no house
should be built unless the Yard was seven yards deep;
and if the houses were built back to back it made at
least fourteen yards with a passage, while the streets
were only ten yards wide. Then, no house could be
occupied unless the building surveyor should certify that
it was fit for human habitation. It appeared, .however,
that there was nothing dearer to a man than his health,
and as most otthelpoor were able to read And write, and
fwd aiutlginent of their, own, he thought every man
would be more likely to look after his own health and
see that the buildinc, *as fit for his habitation than the
Intildinli surveyor was likely to take the trouble of doing.
The medical officer of health had the power to go into
any house and certify that 'it was unfit for a human
4welhq,''afidlhen it was paused' to be closed up,'Which
he considered was more' power than ought to be given
to any officer. :He might say that, before these bye-
laws came before the people,Mcgreat number of. house-
holders had deteimined' to 'lnake an effort to protect
property from unnecessarr, interference. A meeting
,was heideia the ,Philadelplua!' Chambers, and an attempt
'was made to form an assobiation for. that purpose, before
eves the litre heard of. A provisional corn-
.ndttee was appoiuteVto Ow up a report,,WhiCh they
had done, and he would read it to the meeting.
THE PEQVISH/NAI. COMMITTEE'S REPOB.T.
• At a Public Meeting, heldat the Philadelphia. Chambers, on
•IVadnesday -evening, 'the 'l4th instant, an. Association was
formed,.. called '4‘ The Liver Pool Land and Rouse Owners'
Association ;" and it wag...resolved that a- Provisional Com-
mittee be formed, to sketch.the outline of the principles upon
which the :Aroti*eaniis; worjced, and. to draw up a
report to be submittedt ao' !cadre publid meeting, to be called
at as early a day as•poseible.
Two THIMEIVES Oa influential provisional committee meet-
ings were subsequently held at the Crooked Billet, Exchange-
, etreet,East,.when the following report was adopted, namely :
1. That the Liverpool Land and House Owners' Association
shall ,haveiforAtsioWeOs ,the promotion of, the iieterests of the
owners of warehouse,. mAaufacturing, house, land, and other
property: the protection or such interests front. titinec,,,ary
interferenie by parliament, or by public Re
.private bckliej
and, also, to afford assistance in, rempdying evils, by petitions,
niemPrl4l.si 4pAtations to parliarieeety.ane otherwise.
11. That the cpu,ncil of the assOciation cOnsist of the president,
treasurer, solicitor, and thirty gentlemen to-he selected from
the the following classes, as nearly as possible in the. proportion of
three of each class, namely :,--Architects, attorneys, land
owners, house owners builders, estate agents, chairmen of
building societies, warehouse owners, manufacturers, and '
secretaries of building societies. That oneLthird,
ror one of
eaciaclass, retire annually, and that a successor be elected from
earf.i class ; the retiring,nrembers to be eligible for re-election.
That the council shall havepdwer to elect committees, for the
more convenient ilisPaeh of, busbies:el and that a meeting of
. the council be held monthly, or Oftener if necessary, for the
toitlienatlon or otherwise of their committees' Proceedings, and
the despatch of businesh;• 'The Council and committees to ex
their own•thiees and-places of meeting.
111. That Mr. William Williams, of Maly Ann-street,
Everton; be nominated treasurer.
That the . annual subscription be not less than ten
shillings, to be due on'the Ist -January and July ; payable by'
half-yearly. instalments. • • • • • •
V. That Mi. William Josies be nominated' secretary, at a,
salary of. £39 per annum, in 'addition to- which he is to be
allowed 14 per • cent. upon all snbscriptions collected ; his
otlice to be in some Natal situation, such as the association
will apprOve "`•- • • • •
VI.---That the solicitor be nominatedby the council, subject
to the approval otaznibLemeeting. -
`II,---That the'i•Feigident for the first year be elected at the
public meeting.
vw...—That the sub-cinntuitteee memorial in reply to ‘. the
nyA Not
saws," for Pntriimi to 'die council, as read, be approved
of, a--,d read at the public meeting. • •• -
Leg p.Fooo",ni be taken to °noose or aid hills in
Parliament, tvllic•ii will entail great expense, witAtkut the