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Bemoval of house refuse.
The by-laws of the London County Council require house refuse to be removed from all
premises not less frequently than once a week, and give opportunity for the institution of a system
of daily removal. The Westminster City Council have for some time been developing a system of daily
removal, and Dr. Allan now reports that since 1908 it has been put in operation throughout the borough.
"The only part of the City where the daily collection has not yet been effected is part of St. Margaret
and St. John district, where there are still six carts working on the weekly system." He adds that
"Now, complaints are few, and the daily collection is finished by 10 o'clock in the morning." The
practicability of instituting and maintaining a daily collection in one of the largest districts of London,
in which inhabitants of all classes dwell, and in which houses and businesses of all kinds exist, is now
demonstrated and the Westminster City Council have provided an object lesson which should go far
to encourage other sanitary authorities to adopt a like course. The neighbouring borough of St.
Marylebone has also added to the number of streets in the northern area in which the refuse is daily
collected, and Dr. Porter reports that it was also decided to extend this system to other streets in the
southern area. Moreover, dust shoots have been abolished and moveable receptacles have been provided
in their place, and old disused brick receptacles have been removed or abolished. In Holborn,
also, there has been, although in less degree, some extension of the system of daily collection.
As in previous reports Dr. Warry calls attention to the large number of inhabitants in Hackney
who decline to allow the scavengers to remove their house refuse when their houses are visited for this
purpose. These " refusals " number some 4,000—5,000 a week, and in this connection it may be stated
that at the date of the last census there were 30,600 houses in Hackney. Such refusal constitutes
" obstruction " involving penalty, and a remedy therefore exists. The effect of systematic collection
in relieving house occupiers of the difficulties experienced in earlier years is shown by a statement in
the report of Dr. Harris that in Islington the number of applications for the removal of refuse in 1909
numbered only 67, whereas in 1891 there were 10,138 applications.
Removal of offensive trade refuse.
In previous reports reference is made to the fact that a system of collection of offensive trade
refuse (fish offal) by sanitary authorities is in operation in the City, Woolwich, Finsbury, Wandsworth
and Greenwich, a contractor being employed for this purpose in the City, Wandsworth and Greenwich.
The charges made are stated in the reports relating to Finsbury and Woolwich. In Finsbury
special bins are provided by the borough council, a deposit of 8s. being required for each bin, and " a
sum varying from Is. to 2s., according to the quantity removed, is charged for each occasion when the
bins are used." A specially constructed van is used for collecting this refuse. The charge made in
Woolwich is 3d. a receptacle, charged per quarter in advance on the amount collected in the previous
quarter. The medical officers of health of the City, Wandsworth and Greenwich state that the arrangements
which have been made are working satisfactorily.
The question whether the refuse from a restaurant was house refuse which the sanitary authorities
were required to remove, or trade refuse, was the subject of a decision in the King's Bench
Division in June, 1909, in the case of Lyons and Co., Ltd. v. the City of London Corporation. The case
is thus stated in the " Justice of the Peace." :—
" The appellants were the occupiers of premises which they used as a tea shop, providing customers
with refreshments and food for consumption on the premises, some of the food being cooked or prepared
on the premises. No one slept on the premises at night. The refuse from the premises consisted of
ashes and clinkers, coffee grounds, newspaper, cabbage leaves, egg shells, dust and general dirt, broken
crockery, tea leaves, potato parings, sweepings from the floors and sweepings from the rooms. It did
not include scraps left by customers, which were given away in charity. The Court held that in the
circumstances the refuse was house refuse."
In a similar case heard at the instance of the Islington Borough Council by a Stipendiary Magistrate
a like decision was given.
Nuisance from flies.
During the summer months observations were made as to the extent of nuisance from flies in
the neighbourhood of a depot used for the manipulation of house refuse, a glue and size manufacturer's
premises, and a railway siding at which trucks were loaded with stable manure and other refuse materials.
Dr. Hamer's report on this subject is appended. (See Appendix IV.)
Housing of the Working Classes Act.
Proceedings of the County Council under Part III. of the Act.
In February the Council accepted a tender for the erection of 32 additional cottages on the
second part of Section B of the Norbury Estate for the sum of £6,579 14s. In July a tender was accepted
for the erection of 110 cottages on the third part of Section B of the Norbury Estate, viz., 30 cottages
with three rooms, 54 with three rooms and a box room, 25 with four rooms and one with five rooms,
each cottage to contain a scullery and the usual offices. In respect of both tenders the Council undertook
to supply the bricks.
In July the Council accepted a tender of £19,343 for erection of 105 cottages on the third part
of the Tower Gardens section of the White Hart-lane Estate, viz., 53 with three rooms and a scullery,
and 52 with four rooms and a scullery.