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fit to be discharged into the river. If we at Barking and Crossness
had no larger an effluent than that, it would not be fit to go into
the river. This effluent ought to be removed from the river.
One way would be to take it into the County Council
sewers, and the other way would be for the districts themselves to take
it into the Thames and treat it themselves. I believe the sewage
question will have to be treated in this way. I think it would be better
for these districts in Essex to have a separate system from the
County Council. My own personal opinion is that it would be
better if the matter were fairly faced and considered, and a large
scheme embracing the whole of these districts undertaken. When
that is done the third large pollution of the River Lea will be
removed, and I don't think you will have occasion to go any further
in the matter.
The Chaihman: I should like to make an explanation. We in
Hackney have felt the grievance of this river, and have approached
the London County Council. The Rivers Committee of the Council
considered the matter, and recommended that the Government
should be urged to reappoint the Select Committee. I may frankly
say that we want to urge the County Council not only to pass this
resolution, but to urge them to go forward and make this one of
the chief items of their work in the year in the east of London.
For this purpose we have drawn up a resolution as a basis on
which we can arrive at some conclusion. I hope everything will be
done in an amicable spirit, because we are strong enough now to
urge upon the County Council to take action in the matter. I think
by a strong pull we may be able to get 'this Commission reappointed,
and then possibly some of us may be able to give such
evidence as will make Parliament consider the matter.
Dr. E. B. Forman, Chairman of the Public Health Committee of
the London County Council said: Most of what I was going to say has
been already said. I was going to speak upon the pollution of the
River Lea, and I hold in my hands some papers on the subject; but
Dr. Alexander has treated the subject so exhaustively that I need