s 127 Power of companies, &c, to provide houses for working classes
Any dock or harbour company, or any other company, society, or association established for trading or manufacturing purposes in the course of whose business, or in the discharge of whose duties, persons of the working class are employed, may (notwithstanding any Act of Parliament, or charter, or any rule of law or equity to the contrary) at any time erect, either on their own land or on any other land (which they are hereby authorised to purchase and hold for the purpose and to pay for out of any funds at their disposal), houses for the accommodation of all or any of the persons of the working class employed by them.