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Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and so placed as to be a nuisance, or offensive
to public decency. (Clause 20).
4. Enabling the Council to make by-laws, to be enforced by Sanitary Authorities,
quiring the paving of stables with impervious material. (Clause 24.)
5. Enabling Sanitary Authorities to require the removal of fixed dust receptacles after
moveable receptacles have been provided. (Clause 21.)
6. Enabling Sanitary Authorities to examine premises on which food is prepared for
sale, and to require the removal of conditions likely to give rise to contamination.
(Clause 23.)
7. Amending Part VIII. of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902, so
as to make penalties against ice-cream manufacturers and vendors payable to the
Metropolitan Borough Councils. (Clause 52.)
8. Prohibiting the sorting and sifting of house refuse, by hand, in London. (Clause 22.)
The communication, and the proposed Clauses, were referred by the Council to a Special
Committee, who made suggestions for amendments thought to be desirable—especially with reference
to Clause 23 (relating to sanitary regulations for premises used for sale, &c., of food) as "being drawn
too wide"; and to Clause 24 (relating to the making of by-laws as to the draining and paving of
stables), the Committee being of opinion that the Borough Council, and not the County Council,
should make the bye-laws referred to.
Under the heading "Prospective Sanitary Legislation" I dealt with the several proposals in
the eleventh report (November 16th, page 177) to which reference may be made for a full expression
of my views. Here it may suffice to submit a brief summary of them as follows:—
1 (Clause 18). *"Filthy, dangerous or unwholesome articles to be purified."—With this clause the
Borough Council agree; for during several years, the Kensington Sanitary Authority have made
efforts to obtain the sanction of the Local Government Board to a by-law for the purpose, applicable
to the case of furnished rooms in registered houses.
2 (19). "Houses infested with vermin to be cleansed."—Direct legislation for the purpose would
be useful, though the object is largely achieved, in the borough, by the service of notices (commonly
under the by-laws for registered houses), to cleanse vermin-infested houses.
3 (20). "Sanitary Authority may require removal or alteration of sanitary conveniences." Efforts
were made by the late Vestry in 1888, to improve the condition of urinals connected with public
houses; efforts which were less effective than could have been desired owing to the want of such
powers as the County Council propose to acquire for sanitary authorities.
4 (24). "Power to Council to make by-laws as to paving and draining of stables.'—A subject for a
long time under my consideration with a view to ascertain whether something might not be done,
under existing powers, to improve the sanitary condition of stables, by exclusion of filth-polluted
air from dwelling rooms placed over them. The proposed by-laws should regulate the structure of
the ceiling, and make provision for efficient separation of the staircase from the stable.
5 (21). "Fixed ashpits to be removed where moveable ashpits provided."—A conference of sanitary
authorities held at the County Hall, in 1900, was of opinion that "fixed ashpits should be abolished
and moveable receptacles provided in their place." At present there is no power to abolish an existing
fixed receptacle if it be not a nuisance.
* The figures within brackets indicate the number of the clause: the italicised words, following them, the marginal
description of the matters dealt with in the several clauses.