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The subject was one in which the Kensington Sanitary Authority had long taken an interest,
and on which I had made many reports, the first of them in the year 1878*. In 1883, I called
attention, more particularly, to nuisance from 'stenches arising in the collection and storage of fat,
and other animal matters, in a putrid condition,' on the premises of marine store dealers, which led
the late vestry to make representations to the Metropolitan Board of Works, which, apparently
fruitless at the time, subsequently led to consideration of the subject, generally. And in 1885, in a
special report on 'Sanitary, Nuisances-Removal and other Cognate Acts' (March 13th), made at
the request of the Law and Parliamentary Committee, † I drew attention to unused powers vested
in the Metropolitan Board of Works; section 202 of the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855,
enabling them to make by-laws for ' works of cleansing and of removing and disposing of refuse.'
In 1887 the subject came under the consideration by the Special Purposes and Sanitary
Committee of the late Metropolitan Board of Works, who caused a circular letter to be addressed to
the Sanitary Authorities thereon. The Committee, recognising that "serious nuisance arose in the
removal of offensive matter through the streets," invited information, and asked for advice as to the
best means of dealing with the matter. In my report on the said communication (17th November,
1887), I stated that "nuisance was experienced in the collection of offensive material, and in its
conveyance through the streets, and in its storage prior to removal," and dealt fully with the
question under the several headings,—" Fish and Poultry Offal "—" Blood "—" Kitchen Stuff"; and
"Other Offensive Refuse," including "Cowshed Refuse" and "Stable Refuse."X The report, ended with
the expression of a hope that the Metropolitan Board might "come to the conclusion at which the
Vestry had long since arrived, that the matter could be dealt with only by by-laws," which should
be made by the Board, and entail an adequate and fixed penalty for offences; the enforcement of the
by-laws to be entrusted to the local sanitary authorities. "Such by-laws, with respect to offensive
substances of animal origin," it was observed, " should make provision with regard—
"(1) To storage vessels, which should be of metal, impervious and covered.
"(2) To removal in iron tank-vans (but it would be better to provide for the removal of the
storage vessels themselves).
"(8) To time of daily removal (in the evening): and
"(4) To measures for disposal of the refuse."
I added that it was "open to consideration whether the duty of removing all offensive
substances should not be devolved upon the Sanitary Authority, at the reasonable cost of the
producers thereof."
The report was approved by the Vestry, and the Metropolitan Board were informed, 12th
December, 1887—
"That nuisance is experienced ... in the storage and in the collection of offensive material,
and in its conveyance through the streets . . . and is aggravated by the objectionable character
and condition of the vehicles used for conveying the offensive material."
The Vestry, moreover, ordered the report to be sent to the Board as "containing a fuller
exposition of their views on the important questions "dealt with in their circular letter. But nothing
came of the matter, for the Board's existence having been endangered by the introduction of the
London Government Bill in 1888, the Special Purposes and Sanitary Committee did not so much
as report the result of their inquiry—a fact which led to the remark, in my annual report for that
year, that "the materials collected were available for the use of the County Council, whose attention
would probably be given to it in connection with the subject of by-laws"—which could be made under
Section 202 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855.
In 1889, the Vestry forwarded to the County Council the Special Report on "Sanitary,
Nuisances-Removal, and other Cognate Acts" referred to above, "believing that legislation framed
upon the lines of the reports would be conducive to the interests of public health in the Metropolis."
Shortly afterwards, a circular letter was received from the Council enquiring, whether the Vestry
had made by-laws, in pursuance of section 202, for the purposes indicated therein—including "works
of cleansing and of removing and disposing of refuse"?—to which the reply given was, that" no
such by-laws had been made by the Vestry, for the reason that the Vestry had no power to make
such by-laws"; the power to make such by-laws, (originally vested in the Metropolitan Board of
Works,") vesting in the London County Council only."
* Report on "Filth Removal," No. 9, July 24th, 1878.
† The Committee had been instructed to enquire" whether the provisions of the various Acts have been and are being
enforced by the Vestry as fully as the circumstances of the Parish demand; and, if not, to advise as to the steps it is desirable
to take for their better enforcement; and also, whether any amendment of the law may appear necessary ? "
‡ Vide No, 3 Monthly Report, 1903, pages 46 49