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92
other respects in which amendments of the Act were desired, and which could most conveniently
be dealt with at the same time. They accordingly 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 public Bill to deal with it alone, instructed the officers to
report as to other amendments of the Public Health Act which could be dealt with in the same
Bill; and hence the enquirv referred to at page 90 in the present report. The Council adopted
the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee, and discharged the reference.
It is hardly necessary to observe that the proposed "amendment of the
law" would not have sufficed to give effect to the recommendation of the Borough Engineer,
based on the views so long advocated in these reports. It would, moreover, be of small value;
for, even now, when the sanitary authority is authorised to remove the refuse free of charge,
occupiers of stables do not seek their aid. How much less likely would they be to do so if they
had to pay for the service? No, the only useful amendment of law is that which I have advocated in
these reports; viz., to make it the duty of the sanitary authority to remove the refuse at the reasonable
cost of the owner. In this Borough there are besides nearly 200 mews, a great number of
private stables, and some thousands of horses: the need, therefore, of regular removal of manure is
pressing, and I suggest that it would be well for the Council to exercise their power to promote a
Bill in Parliament for the purpose; an additional motive for speedy action in this direction may
be derived from the large outlay (of £2,500) about to be incurred for "sidings" intended to be
utilised in connection with this proposed work, and, so far as would appear at present, not otherwise
likely to be immediately wanted.
Conveyance of Offensive Matter Through Streets.—Reference has been made above
to nuisance arising from the use of peat stable refuse, and to the necessity of depositing such
refuse in a suitable carriage on removal from the stable, so as to allow of its conveyance from
the premises without disturbance, such as takes place when the manure is stored in an ordinary
brick receptacle; the stenches complained of being due, as already explained, to such disturbance.
Reference, moreover, has frequently been made in these reports to nuisance in connection
with the storage and removal of other offensive matter—more particularly that of the trades
of fishmonger, game dealer, poulterer, etc. Refuse of this latter description is required by the
by-law of the County Council to be removed, within prescribed hours, in a "suitable carriage
or vessel properly constructed," and covered, "so as to prevent the escape" of any of the contained
matter, "and so as to prevent any nuisance arising therefrom." During some years, at the instance
of the late Yestry, peat manure at the large stable yards occupied by omnibus companies and
other large proprietors of horses, has been stored in waggons, and removed in them, without
giving rise to serious complaint. With regard to other forms of offensive matter, the views
expressed in these reports indicate the desirability of fish offal, and such like matters, being
removed from the tradesman's premises in the storage vessels, and not, as now, in tank-vans,
the use of which involves more or less nuisance, both when the contents of the shop receptacles
are tipped into the tank, and in transit through the streets. Given properly covered, externally
clean, and sound metal receptacles, no nuisance is likely to arise in transit through the streets,
at whatever time of day removal may be effected, and on purely sanitary grounds there need be
no limitation of hours for the removal.
The necessity for amendment of the by-law, especially with a view to prevent nuisance
in connection with the removal of peat stable manure, had long been recognised, and during
last year a new by-law on the subject was made by the County Council and approved by the
Local Government Board, as follows: —
"1. Every person who shall remove or carry, or cause to be removed or carried, by road or water
in or through London any fæcal or offensive or noxious matter or liquid, whether such matter
or liquid shall be in course of removal or carriage from within or without or through London,
shall use, or cause to be used, therefor, a suitable carriage or vessel, properly constructed,
and furnished with a sufficient covering so as to prevent the escape of any matter or liquid
therefrom, and so as to prevent any nuisance arisng therefrom.
"Such person shall not remove or carry, or cause to be removed or carried, such matter or liquid
by road in or through London, except during the following periods, viz.—
"Between 4 o'clock a.m. and 10 o'clock a.m. in any day during the months of March,
April, May, June, July, August, September, and October.
"Between 6 o'clock a.m. and 12 o'clock at noon in any day during the months of November,
December, January, and February.
"This by-law shall not apply to any person removing or carrying manure, consisting only
of horse dung with a sufficient proportion of straw to render it inoffensive, and shall
not apply to any person removing or carrying in a suitable carriage or vessel as aforesaid
manure consisting of horse dung and litter other than straw.
"2. Every person who shall offend against the foregoing by-law shall be liable for every such
offence to a penalty of five pounds, and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further
penalty of forty shillings for each day after written notice of the offence from the sanitary
authority.
"Provided, nevertheless, that the justices or court before whom any complaint may be made
or any proceedings may be taken in respect of any such offence may, if they think fit, adjudge
the payment as a penalty of any sum less than the full amount of the penalty imposed by
this by-law."