View report page

62
application to the Public Health Department. Other important
provisions for the prevention of the spread of infectious disease
follow in subsequent sections; but they have long been in
operation in this parish. In fact, it may be said generally that
the methods of Sanitary procedure which may have gradually
evolved in this parish during the last twenty years, were adopted
by the framers of the Act as its basis.
Provision is made for Mortuaries and post-mortem examinations;
such has existed in Battersea for many years. The
Mortuary accommodation is, however, becoming somewhat inadequate
for the needs of this ever increasing parish, and it is proposed
to provide a new Mortuary with Coroner's Court. The present
Mortuary, originally said to be the best arranged in London,
in a commendable spirit of emulation, other parishes have
improved upon, until we are at the present time somewhat
short of the standard of excellence. The plans of the Surveyor,
if carried out, will provide a building far in advance of the
majority of Metropolitan Mortuaries, but there is a difficulty in
deciding as to the most suitable site.
Customs
and Inland
Revenue
Act, 1891.
This Act, which is simply an extension of the
provisions of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act,
1890, exempting houses structurally fitted in the
opinion of the Medical Officer of Health for occupation as
separate tenements at an annual rental not exceeding £20 from
the liability to house duty. The 1891 Act raised the amount to
£40 annual rental. These Acts have added much to the duties
of the Medical Officer, as personal inspection is imperative and
certain forms of certificate have to be sent by him to the Surveyor
of Taxes. Many hundreds of tenements have been inspected and
certified since the Act came into force in January, 1891, and
many flats are now being built and converted in the parish in
order to obtain exemption or abatement of the house duty. The
numbers inspected yearly from 1890, in which two hundred and
forty-three were inspected, and after the execution of necessary