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119
inmates of two or more houses, and in the opinion of the
sanitary authority may continue to be properly so used,
they need not require a water-closet to be provided for each
house.
(5) Any person who thinks himself aggrieved by any notice or
act of a sanitary authority under this section may appeal to the
County Council, whose decision shall be final.
It appears clear from these sections that the local authority has
power in individual cases to require owners of property to provide a
sufficient number of water-closets for the convenience of occupants
of private dwelling houses, regard being paid to the number of
users of the same.
An examination of the table herewith given will show that the
number of occupants of these houses varies from two to twenty
persons.
Although I have not received any complaint from the occupants
of these houses of inadequacy of water-closet accommodation, I am
of opinion that in certain of them the sanitary conveniences, viewed
both from the standpoint of sanitation and decency, are inadequate,
and that the question of causing additional accommodation to be
provided should receive the Committee's attention. With respect
to the other nuisances, it was found on inspection that five of the
houses had defective drains, and that several had minor defects as
dilapidated dust bins, defective yard paving, and others required
cleansing and minor repairs. Most of these defects have since been
remedied.
A further point which I should like the Committee to
consider is the desirability or otherwise of registering the Derby
Road houses as houses let in lodgings under the By-laws in force
in the Borough, as they appear to be premises which might properly
be registered, the rental for the tenements being such as to bring
them within the operations of the By-laws if the Committee so
desire.