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66
The London County Council last year in a General Powers Bill sought
for authority to make Bye-laws with respect to the paving and drainage of
stables and stable yards within the County, and your Medical Officer, in
reporting on the same, pointed out that Bye-laws for this purpose were hardly
necessary, stables being "premises" within the meaning of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, and nuisance therein could be dealt with summarily, and
the Sanitary Authority could, therefore, if they think desirable, specify any
works to be executed to prevent a recurrence of any nuisance. Moreover, a
multiplicity of Bye-laws should be avoided.
In the event the London County Council's proposals were not adopted.
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1904-
In November, 1903, your Medical Officer reported at length upon the London
County Council (General Powers) Bill as drafted for the consideration of
Parliament. This Report dealt with the sanitary section of the Bill, which
aimed at giving additional powers to Local Sanitary Authorities in the
Metropolis.
These are now embodied in the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1904, which received the Royal Assent on the loth August, 1904,
wherein the separate and independent authority of the Corporation, as the
Local Sanitary Authority for both the City of London and the Port of
London, is clearly defined.
The new statutory powers conferred upon the Corporation in Part III. of
this Act grant authority for—
Section 19 (1) (2).—The purification or destruction of filthy,
dangerous or unwholesome articles.
Section 20 (1) (2).—The cleansing of houses infested with vermin.
Section 22.—The removal or alteration of sanitary conveniences so
placed or constructed as to be a nuisance or offensive to public decency.
Section 24 (2)—gives the Sanitary Authority of any sanitary district
a right to enter at all reasonable times any house, building or premises,
or part thereof, in that district for the purpose of examining whether
there is any contravention of the provisions of Sections 19 and 20 (already
referred to.)
This is an entirely new departure, and one of great importance to Sanitary
Authorities. It is a most useful provision. Similar powers should be
conferred upon Sanitary Authorities in relation to all nuisances. At present,