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182
Removal of Manure.—In the first report for 1898,
reference was made to a communication from the medical
officer of health to the County Council, with respect to the
complaints the public health committee receive, from time
to time, of nuisance arising from accumulations of stable
manure, and to the power the sanitary authority have (under
section 36 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891) to
collect and remove refuse of this sort within their district, but
without power to charge for such collection and removal. The
committee were considering the question, whether, with a
view to facilitate the removal of manure, it was desirable to
seek an amendment of the section, so as to enable the sanitary
authority, as is reasonable, to charge for the said service.*
I had no hesitation in expressing an opinion that such an
amendment of the law was desirable. As a result of the
enquiry by the committee, and on their recommendation, the
Council instructed the parliamentary committee to take the
necessary steps "to obtain such an amendment of the law as
would give the London sanitary authorities power to charge
for the removal of manure, when required by the owner or
occupier of any premises to remove it." The parliamentary
committee reported that the instructions of the Council to
take the necessary steps to obtain such an amendment of the
law, involve an amendment of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, which would necessitate the introduction of a
separate Public Bill: it therefore occurred to them that there
were probably other respects in which amendments in the Act
were desired, and which could most conveniently be dealt
with at the same time. The parliamentary committee according
consulted the public health committee, and this
committee, being of opinion that the question was not of so
urgent a character as to necessitate the introduction of a
*The question whether the Vestry would be in favour of such a proposed
amendment of the law having been considered by the sanitary committee, they
advised that no action be taken in the matter, and no action was taken.