London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1897

Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1897

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87
every effort to induce the London County Council to take the
sewage." We have tried every legal means. We have admitted
we are sinners, and will do all we can to associate ourselves with
Leyton, but I would point out that while we are willing to do all we
can to take our sewage out of the river, we shall be doing a great
benefit for Hackney. The sale of the 180 acres would be sufficient
tocover our contribution towards the joint scheme, and the remainder
we would throw open for a playground. It will be a source of great
advantage to Hackney to have such a space open. I urge this
conference to receive this scheme as soon as possible. I was pleased
to hear the gentleman of the London County Council hold out to us
some hope of being able to take our sewage into their system. We
got a letter from the County Council last Friday declaring that they
could not possibly entertain our wishes, and holding out no hope at
all that they would ever give us a chance of taking our sewage into
their sewers. I am glad that there is now some hope.
Mr. Pearce: Oh, no! I said the districts themselves must
do the work.
Mr. McSheedy: It is impossible for us to do anything. The
Local Government Board refuses to allow us to borrow money, and
the London County Council won't help us. I do hope the conference
to-night will hold out some hope of inducing the County Council to
help us. I look to the County Council as our saviour in this respect.
We admit our guilt, and ask them to do what they can to relieve us
of this responsibility.
Mr. Pearce: I hope I have not been misunderstood. The
London County Council sewer is barely sufficient for the duty it has
to perform for the County of London, and therefore, it is very
unfortunate if any remarks have come from me which have been
taken in the sense mentioned by the last speaker. It is impossible
for us to entertain anything of the kind. These istricts outside
London must have a separate scheme.
Mr. Whittingham: This is a good time for us to join with
others in making the London County Council sewer bigger.