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The magisterial decision is not without interest, but it is not binding upon any other court of
summary jurisdiction; it remains to be seen, moreover, whether it will be followed by other
magistrates, should other Borough Councils adopt the advice of the County Council, and "take all
possible steps to secure the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water for the tenants of
every floor of a tenemented house," under Section 48.
I am in agreement with the Public Health Committee of the County Council as to the
inadequacy of the arrangements for the supply of water to the tenants of the upper floors in
tenemented houses; there being, as they say, in many, if not most, of such houses, but a single tap,
and that in the basement or on the ground floor. It would be a great convenience to tenants to
have a water supply on every floor; but if this were given, it would be necessary to provide sinks
with waste-pipes, to carry off drippings, and to prevent injury to the premises from damp, should
a tap be left running. In this connection it may be mentioned that at the Conference of Delegates
of the Borough Councils, held at the County Hall in July last, a resolution was unanimously
adopted—" That a draw-off tap from the rising main, and a sink, should be provided on every floor
of a tenement house."
It may be mentioned that the County Council placed themselves in communication with the
Metropolitan Water Board, desiring to know whether they would acquiesce in, or obtain, the
removal of the existing restrictions in their Acts of Parliament, with regard to the height of the
water supply ? The Board, without prejudice to their statutory right, signified their willingness to
co-operate, as far as possible, in the direction desired by the Council, and to accept in tenement
houses similar arrangements to those adopted in the case of blocks of houses constructed by the
Council. This is satisfactory as far as it goes, but it may be doubted whether it will be practicable
to enforce provision of a water supply to the upper floors of tenemented houses without fresh
legislation on the lines of the resolution of the Conference.
CONCLUSION.
In bringing this report to a conclusion, I desire to acknowledge the able assistance received
from Mr. E. R. Hill, chief clerk in the Public Health Department, in the collation of statistics, and
generally. I desire also to bear testimony to the good work of the staff, as a whole, and
particularly to that of the inspecting staff, male and female. Mr. Pettit, the chief inspector,
rendered me great assistance in every respect, and especially in connectien with the important
work devolved upon the Council, under the Factory and Workshop Act, in relation to the
Underground Bakehouses, a subject dealt with elsewhere in this report.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
T. ORME DUDFIELD,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department
Town Hall, Kensington, W
April 1905.
[Appendices.