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191
suggested legislation." The subject however is dealt with in
the new Public Health Act, to a certain extent, as, in section
141, "the expression 'ash-pit' " is defined to mean " any ash-pit,
dust-bin, ash-tub, or other receptacle for the deposit of ashes
or refuse matter." The principle of a moveable receptacle
being thus admitted, it is scarcely probable that builders in the
future will go to the expense of erecting permanent dust-bins,
which, as commonly mis-used, create or constitute a nuisance
liable to be dealt with summarily under the Act. The
bye-laws of the County Council relating to the storage
and removal of house refuse are now in operation.
A constantly increasing difficulty is experienced in finding
convenient, i.e., accessible "shoots" for house refuse, to
the deposit of which within their boundaries the Sanitary
Authorities of contiguous districts naturally object. The
refuse, moreover, has little value now that building operations
are being prosecuted upon so limited a scale in, or
within an easy distance of, the Parish; and other districts
being able to supply the brickmakers' wants. The land
acquired by your Vestry at Purfleet on the river Thames,
would, it was thought, furnish a profitable outlet for the
greater part of the refuse of the parish. Hitherto, however,
little use has been made of this land, which is held in reserve
in case of emergency. In previous reports I have intimated
that a solution of the difficulty of sanitary disposal of house
refuse would be found in cremation, which could, under proper
conditions, be carried out successfully and without the creation
of nuisance. This view is supported by the Medical Officer
of Health and the Engineer to the London County Council,
who, having made a thorough inquiry into the whole subject
of Dust Destructors, in accordance with an instruction of the
Public Health and Housing Committee, came to the conclusion
that the cremation of house refuse may be effected, in
a properly-constructed apparatus, without creating any