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11
"by the owner. But, now, to-day, the ground has been shifted from that.
"Now it is said that, though there were four inches of cement, it is getting
"shifted away, and the water is running down the wall and making the
"premises damp. It is clear to my mind that that is not so, because fish
"heads and other things are thrown into the sinks. These tenants are
"reckless people. I expect they pay considerably higher rent because of
"their carelessness. The probability is that if they were not so careless
"they would have more money for their food. But I am satisfied that the
"owner has seen to the rainwater pipes when they became defective. He
"has had them repaired from time to time, and when a shoe is knocked
"off it probably takes two or three days, or two or three weeks. That is
"one's experience. When a tile is off you do not run at once to a
"plumber, and you are not bound at once to remedy it. Other points were
"put that there were no lights in the staircases or passages. I have no
"power to put gas in a staircase. I have no power to make a man knock
"a window through and make a light."*
The case was accordingly dismissed with 15 guineas costs. In the course
of the evidence the prosecutor, who acts as Inspector for the Mansion House
Council, admitted that he never called the attention of caretakers to
nuisances which he thought to exist.
I can scarcely believe that the Committee and subscribers to this Council
are aware that advertisements constantly appear in the local press inviting
householders to communicate with the Council's Officers when they become
aware of the existence of nuisances. Were the people advised to forward
the information to the Sanitary Authorities which exist for the purpose
of dealing with them, and whose machinery is ever ready to speedily
treat such cases, much valuable time would be saved.
In the summer I gave the prosecutor in the above case some post cards
requesting him to forward to me any complaints which came under his
notice, but up to the present time I have not received a single one.
As a noteworthy contrast to this method for proving the raison d'etre for
the existence of the Society, I am glad to record my appreciation of the
good work carried out by the Jewish Board of Guardians through their
Sanitary Inspector. Conducting his duties upon different lines, this
gentleman acts as a fellow worker with the Board's Officers.
I hope the Lord Mayor and the other Members of the Mansion House
Council may be induced to assist Local Authorities in their work for the
welfare of their Districts. We shall then most warmly welcome their
efforts.

Registered Cause of the above Deaths:-
Old Age 11
Heart Disease 5
Nervous Diseases 4
Respiratory Diseases 5
Digestive Diseases 4
Other Diseases 5
* From the Shorthand Writer's notes.