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84
As in previous years much of the smoke nuisauce complained of is
the result of careless stoking of the furnaces.
Several notices were also served with respect to chimneys outside
Westminster from which black smoke was blowing into the City.
The County Council introduced a Bill into Parliament to amend
the law dealing with smoke nuisance in several respects. One of the
objects of the Bill was to omit the defining word "black" before the
word "smoke" in the Public Health Act.
A special report from the Select Committee on Local Legislation
states that as the County Council were unwilling to accept any
limitation on their suggested clause, the Committee, having in view
the serious effect it might have on the industries of London, did not
allow it.
Other clauses of the Bill were passed, and the Act received the
Royal Assent on August 3rd, 1910.
It provides that in any special case in which a sanitary authority
request them so to do, the County Council may, in lieu of such sanitary
authority, enforce the provisions of Section 23 (Furnaces and Steam
Vessels to consume their own smoke) and Section 24 (Summary
proceedings for abatement of nuisance caused by smoke) of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891. The County Council are also empowered
to enforce the provisions of those sections in their application to any
building or premises belonging to or used by a sanitary authority, but
in the exercise of this power the County Council are subject to the
provisions of Sub.section (3) of Section 117 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, which provides that no proceedings shall be taken
by the County Council against a sanitary authority save with the
sanction of the Local Government Board, unless such proceeding is for
the recovery of expenses or of money due from the sanitary authority
to the County Council.
Difficulty is sometimes experienced in dealing with smoke from
chimneys ending at a lower level than the houses adjoining. The
smoke is often unable to get away, being beaten down or blown about
by the currents of air induced by the varying heights of the surrounding
buildings. In the accompanying photographs some of these results
may be noted. The remedy consists sometimes in raising the offending
chimney, or in carrying the smoke to the top of the nearest house
by means of a flue, or by discontinuing the use of coal.