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23
It will be seen from the foregoing statement that
considerable work has been accomplished under the
Acts, but there are great differences of opinion as to the
extent of the powers of the Vestry; if houses are
regarded as unfit for habitation because the floor is
lower than the street paving, then probably one-third
of the houses in the Parish would be condemned for
this reason.
Again, the smallness of the rooms cannot be regarded
as a reasonable objection. The remedy in this case is
for the Sanitary Inspectors to take proceedings for over-
crowding if and when such overcrowding is discovered.
The form of proceedings under the Act is excessively
tedious, and an obstructive owner may without carrying
out the Vestry's orders to repair, keep his premises in
occupation for an indefinite period. I cannot help contrasting
this with the proceedings under the Nuisances
Removal Acts, against owners of houses which are in
the opinion of the Medical Officer unfit for habitation.
A Police Court Summons can at once be taken out
and a Magistrate's Order obtained to close the premises,
which cannot again be occupied, under a penalty of
20s. per day, until the owner can satisfy the Magistrate
that the works necessary to render the house fit for
habitation have been carried out.
When the huts which stood on the north side of Derbyshire
street and in Granby row, Elliott's row, and
Thomas passage, were closed under these powers, the
owners at once demolished them and erected new and
improved buildings on the sites.
GENERALLY.
On the completion of the repairs of St. John's
Church by Mr. Churchwarden J. C. B. Richardson,
St. John's
Church.