effective, which come into operation in areas specially prescribed by the Local Government Board. This department may, at its discretion, declare any part of the Metropolis to be under the operation of section 35 of the Public Health Act of 1866, the result of which is that the local authority in the district named is at once empowered to make regulations for the following purposes: For fixing the number of lodgers in houses, the whole or part of which is let in lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family ; for the registration of such houses ; for their inspection and cleanliness ; enforcing the maintenance of proper and sufficient sanitary appliances; for ventilation and drainage ; for the separation of the sexes. There can be no doubt we have the legal power for securing decency and proper sanitary precautions in dwellings in London. As far back as 1851, an Act was passed " to encourage the establishment of lodging- houses for the labouring classes." The vestries have power to borrow; lands may be appropriated, purchased or rented, and buildings suitable for lodging-houses erected, fitted up, and furnished; after some years' trial, if found too expensive, they may be sold. The initiative may be taken by ten or more ratepayers. Yet, according to Lord Shaftesbury, this useful measure has only been put in force in one instance. The Act of 1851 may be forgotten, but the excuse will not avail against Torrens' Act, the object of which is clearly stated in section 14 of the amended statute of 1879, 42 and 43 Viet., c. 64, which declares the object of the Act to be "the providing, by the construction of new buildings, or the repairing of existing buildings, the labouring classes with suitable