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147
yard, where the supply of water was, to the top floor there were 34
stairs ; that beyond a dilapidated unusable copper and a standpipe,
both in the yard, there was no other provision of water, sink, scullery
or wash-house; that in consequence the tenants stored water in open
vessels on each floor, where it was liable to pollution ; and that owing
to the labour in carrying up the water, an insufficient quantity was
used to ensure cleanliness, both of persons and of rooms. It was also
proved that a draw-off tap and sink could be fixed on each landing.
The Defendant contended that there was an ample supply of
water available if the tenants chose to fetch it, that it was not
practicable, or necessary, to provide a separate supply to each floor,
and that no nuisance existed on the premises.
Medical evidence in support of the prosecution showed that the
want of a separate supply was a nuisance dangerous or injurious to
health.
The Magistrate, Mr. Rupert Kettle, in giving his decision, said
that the stand-pipe in the yard was not a proper and sufficient supply
within the meaning of the Act, and that there should be a separate
supply to each floor, and made an Order to abate the nuisance
accordingly, with £5 5s. costs.
A sink and tap was subsequently provided on the landings of each
of the first and second floors with satisfactory results.
In view of this case the London County Council drew the
attention of each Metropolitan Borough Council to the importance
of faking "all possible steps fo secure the provision of a proper
and sufficient supply of water for the tenants of every floor of a
tenement house." We have not lost sight of the importance of this
subject, but it is generally admitted that Section 48 may be
variously interpreted by different Magistrates, and that so long as
a tenement house, particularly a small one, is provided with " a
proper and sufficient supply of water " it would be impracticable to
enforce a separate supply to each floor.
Concluding Note.—A study of the conditions prevailing
in Finsbury, in respect of the housing question, makes it evident
(i) that the population of Finsbury is a declining one ; (ii) that
the density of the population per acre is a declining one ; but (iii)
that the density per house is an increasing one. Time and the
ordinary process of events, if coupled with strict sanitary super-