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227
OBSTRUCTIVE BUILDINGS.
A proposal having been made with respect to the erection
of a particular building in the parish, the Works and Sanitary
Committee reported that they were unable to approve of the
plan of the premises, in view of the probability that the
building might, by stopping ventilation, prejudicially affect
surrounding properties, and so might have to be reported by
the Medical Officer of Health as an "obstructive building,"
within the meaning of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, 1890. The Committee recommended, and your Vestry
directed, that the architect of the proposed building be so
informed. With reference to the general question of "obstructive
buildings," I thought it right to point out, for the
information of your Vestry, that, should a Sanitary Authority
decide to take proceedings under the provisions of the Act,
for the demolition of an " obstructive building," the entire
cost of the proceedings, including compensation to the owner
of the building, would have to be defrayed by the said
Authority. The Act naturally contemplates the removal
of existing "obstructive buildings:" it can hardly have
entered into the mind of Parliament that new buildings of an
" obstructive" character would be allowed to be erected.
SMOKE CONSUMPTION.
The duty of dealing with smoke nuisances devolves upon
the Sanitary Authority, under the provisions of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891. In a few instances there has been
cause for complaint in this parish, and the proprietors of certain
breweries, laundries, &c., have been cautioned. In some
cases, nuisances of this description have been reported by
the officers of the County Council—inspectors of explosives
and coal officers—who "have been instructed to report any
nuisance from black smoke of serious duration which comes to
their notice in the course of their other duties." No proceedings
have been taken hitherto by your Vestry in respect of
offences of this nature, and it may be questioned whether it