Plymouth Rents Tribunal: … the Tribunal members were Colonel Seymour Williams, Sir John Heary, and Mr. J. Bond, who were accompanied on their tour of inspection by the Town Clerk (Mr. R. J. Pittall), the borough Surveyor (Mr. J. Wibberley), Mr. R. B. Barker (housing director), Alderman J. P. Brown (chairman) and Mr. J. Churchward (representing the Housing Committee) and Messrs. A. Warren and E. J. Reeby (representing tenant’s associations). At the inquiry, which opened at noon, there were present, in addition to those named, the mayor (Mr. Solomon Stephens), Alderman J. J. H. Moses, Mr. S. C. Alford (representing the Ministry of Health), and Mr. F. W. H. Pinsent (district valuer). Dockyard Employment Figures: Opening the case for the Corporation, the Town Clerk gave details of the rents charted for the different types of houses on the three estates, which he pointed out, were those proposed by the Ministry, namely 10s, 10s 3d, 12s 3d, and 14s 6d. the chief industries in the borough, he pointed out, were the Dockyard and the naval and military establishments. Before the war about 12,000 persons were employed in the Dockyard. During the war the number rose to 25,000, and at present it was down to practically the pre-war figure. Consequently, there was a large amount of unemployment in the town … … (long discussion) … …
On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Alford called Mr. Pinsent, who dissented from the figures submitted by the Tenant’ Association as the average pre-war rents for comparable houses in the Mount Gold District. His average was £23 10s, as against their £21 14s, and others ere in similar proportion. He considered the present rentals of the Council houses were justified by comparison with those of other houses in the locality … (continues) …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0322 Hennock: Francis Wingfield Homfray Pinsent: 1875 – 1948