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47
and then a Committee, composed exclusively of members of
the Vestry who had not visited the premises, reverse the proceedings
of the Sanitary Authority and permit rooms which,
in the opinion of their Sanitary Officers, of those members of
the Sanitary Authority who had visited the premises, of medical
practitioners in practice in the neighbourhood, are unfit for
human habitation, to be occupied in direct contravention of
the Public Health Act they are bound to administer.
OVERCROWDING.
20 houses were certified as being overcrowded and notices
to abate the overcrowding were served on the persons
responsible for it which were complied with; but as I have
already pointed out, it is evident, from the census returns,
that there is a good deal of overcrowding in the parish, but it
escapes notice, as the staff of inspectors is too limited to
undertake a systematic examination, even of the very poor
property, which is so eminently desirable. Much good could
probably be effected if district visitors and others who visit
the poor, would always inform the Sanitary Department of
any case of apparent overcrowding, and of any insanitary
condition they meet with. At present it is greatly to be
regretted that so little information is received from those who
necessarily have an intimate knowledge of the conditions
under which the majority of the poor live.