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77
Among "Miscellaneous Provisions," mention may be made of Section 49, which enables the
Council of any Metropolitan Borough to cause trees to be planted in any highway within their
Borough, to maintain any trees planted, or to be planted, and to erect and maintain guards, or
fences, for the protection of the same, subject to certain provisos.
The foregoing provisions are to be enforced by the Sanitary Authority (Section 25). Various
expressions used in the Act are interpreted in Section 26.
Several matters dealt with in the Biil find no place in the Act, having been withdrawn or
rejected: e.g., the proposal to give power to the County Council to make by-laws as to the paving
and drainage of stables, and the prohibition of sorting or sifting of house refuse by hand. It is to
be regretted that the proposal to enable the County Council to make by-laws with respect to the
structure of premises within the County where food is prepared for sale, and for the regulation of
the conduct and the business carried on at bakehouses, restauraunts, &c., did not meet with
acceptance. With respect to restaurant-kitchens, and places generally where food is prepared for
sale, the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (4) of section 101 of the Factory and Workshop Act,
might with advantage, be made to apply, so that, after a given date, places (in the Metropolis),
where food is prepared for sale, should not be used "unless certified by the District Council to be
suitable for that purpose," and that any such place should "not be certified as suitable unless the
District Council is satisfied that it is suitable, as regards construction, light, ventilation, and in all
other respects." By-laws would naturally make provision for periodical cleansing, painting, limewashing,
etc., of the premises where food is prepared for sale, and for the daily cleansing, removal
of refuse, etc., necessary for the maintenance of good sanitary conditions, and to prevent
contamination of food. They would also give the sanitary authority the right of entry to all such
places which the Council's officers now possess with regard to bakehouses.
THE WORK OF THE SANITARY INSPECTORS.
The Sanitary Inspecting Staff comprises a chief inspector, ten male inspectors, and two lady
inspectors of workshops, workplaces and laundrieswhere women are employed. The table at page 78
contains a summary of the work of the male inspectors (so far as it admits of tabulation) in
their several districts, of which six are in North Kensington; i.e., north of High Street, Notting Hill
and Holland Park Avenue; and four in South Kensington; three of them to the south of Kensington
High Street and Kensington Road; the remaining district lying between the principal
thoroughfares named. The work of the inspectors is carried out under the supervision of the
Public Health Committee, the Council having conferred on that body authority to enforce the provisions
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, 18901903,
and the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, etc.
Supervision of underground work, reconstruction and trapping of drains, having been up
to the end of the year exercised by the Borough Engineer, information on the subject must be
sought in that officer's report. A considerable number of drains were voluntarily reconstructed
by the owners or occupiers of houses, after the deposit of plans for the approval of the Public
Health Committee: particulars on this head also, will be found in the Borough Engineer's report.
Written Intimations of nuisances were served by the inspectors to the number of 2,306.
As a result of these intimations, many works of sanitary amendment were carried out forthwith,
thus realising the intention of the legislature, and obviating, in many instances, the necessity for service
of statutory notices. On the intimation form a red ink note authorises the person liable to
abate a nuisance to make what, for convenience, may be called an "appeal" to the Committee,
against the requirements of the sanitary inspector. Appeal, which is of rare occurrence, usually
takes the form of an application for an extension of the time specified for carrying out works.
statutory Notices for the abatement of nuisances to the number of 611, were issued by direction
of the Committee; and 992 notices under the by-laws for houses let in lodgings.
legal Proceedings.--In ten cases proceedings were instituted: in four instances, for
offences under the by-laws for registered houses, the fines inflicted amounting to £5 2s. 6d.; in
one case for failure to remove manure periodically, the fine inflicted being £1 2s. 6d.; and in five
cases for non-compliance with the Council's notices, orders being made in four cases, the other
case being withdrawn. The fines in all amounted to £6 5s. Od.