View report page

86
Legal Proceedings.—In 13 cases proceedings were instituted: iu one instance for an
offence under the by-laws for registered houses. The other cases were as follows:—For failure
to periodically remove manure, in two cases, the fines amounting to £4; in one case for failure
to comply with the magistrates' orders, a fine of £3 being inflicted; in seven cases for noncompliance
with the Council's notices, a fine of £5 being inflicted in one case; one for black smoke,
a fine of £10 being inflicted; and in one case for removing offensive matter during prohibited
hours, a fine of £2 being inflicted. The fines in all amounted to £24.
Neglect to carry out the requirements of notices issued by order of the Public Health
Committee within the specified time is still somewhat common, the result being waste of the
time of the inspectors in fruitless visits to premises. In every such case—or at least in every
case when the work has not been put in hand at a date When it should have been completed—
application for the fine "not exceeding ten pounds" prescribed by section 4 (4) of the Public
Health Act, should be made. Failure to comply with the requirements of notices, besides leading
to waste of the officers' time, is also disrespectful to the sanitary authority, and merits punishment.
Smoke Nuisances.—Complaints have been received, from time to time, of nuisance from
smoke at the generating station, at Shepherd's Bush, of the Central London Electric Railway,
and the Council have been urged to take proceedings against the Company. Some time since
I put myself in communication with the Medical Officer of Health of the Borough of Hammersmith,
offering the co-operation of the Council's officers if desired. The Borough Council of
Hammersmith, however, had already instituted proceedings, and after considerable, but unavoidable,
delay, the matter came on for final hearing at the West London Police Court. Twelve
summonses had been issued, and the Company were fined £5 in respect of each offence, or £60 in
all, with costs. Later, proceedings were again taken, on more than one occasion, the aggregate
amount of the fines imposed being considerable. A number of cautionary notices were issued with
respect to offences in the borough, and further proceedings taken in one case, a fine of £10
being inflicted on the offenders.
OFFENSIVE BUSINESSES.
The County Council forwarded to the Council last year lists of slaughter-houses, and premises
where offensive trades are carried on in the borough; lists of dairies, milkshops, cow-houses,
etc., and also copies of the by-laws and regulations in force with respect to these establishments,
which, under the Local Government Act, 1899, it is the duty of the Council to enforce. The said
by-laws, etc., were referred to me, with instructions to see that the several requirements were duly
complied with, and to report any infringement thereof.
The only business coming under the statutory description "offensive," other than that of
a slaughterer of cattle, carried on in the borough, is that of a Fat Extractor, at Tobin-street, in
the Potteries, Notting-dale. The conduct of this business still gives rise to more or less effluvium
nuisance, at times, despite improved arrangements, care on the part of the proprietor, and
supervision by the Council's inspector, as well as by the inspector of the County Council. The
improvements carried out consequent on proceedings instituted by the County Council in 1899,
included the provision of a scour, or condensing apparatus, and elevation of the chimney shaft.
Complaints have been less frequent since these works were completed.
LICENSED SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
Fourteen slaughter-houses were licensed by the County Council in October—seven in North
Kensington and seven in South Kensington. The several premises were regularly visited by
the sanitary inspectors, and were inspected, in September, by the Public Health Committee. The
business of a slaughterer of cattle has not been established anew in the borough since the passing
of the Slaughter-houses (Metropolis) Act, 1874, in which year there were 56 licensed premises.
The number of slaughter-houses in the metropolis, as a whole, has undergone a considerable
diminution; viz., from 1,500 in 1874, to 381 in 1901. In the annual report for 1898 (pp. 98-102)
I dealt with the subject of "Abattoirs versus Private Slaughter-houses," in connection with an
abortive attempt by the Public Health Committee of the County Council to substitute public
for private slaughter-houses. The report of the committee (dated 21st July, 1898), containing
the recommendation, was shelved by the Council on a motion to proceed to the next business—
much to my regret, as an advocate, for 30 years, of public abattoirs. No further action in the
matter has since been taken.