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58
These dwellings are frequently inspected and any insanitary
conditions found are remedied. It is satisfactory to be able to record
the fact that few cases of infectious disease have been notified
from these dwellings during 1909. The total number of cases
notified for the year being seven, as compared with nine in 1908,
and 18 in 1907.
Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1903.
During 1909, three applications were received in respect of
21 tenements for the certificate of the Medical Officer of
Health, under the provisions of the Revenue Act, 1903, in
connection with tenements (or dwellings) so constructed as to
afford suitable accommodation for such of the families inhabiting
the same, and, after inspection by the Medical Officer of Health,
five certificates were granted for five tenements, the remainder
having been either refused or postponed.
The object which the legislature had in view, in connection
with these certificates, was to induce owners of tenement
property to provide a higher standard of accommodation for
tenants of this class of property by offering in such cases an abatement
in the inhabited house duty, as were certified as suitable.
In the new Housing and Town Planning Act a further extension
has been made by exempting from inhabited house duty any
house occupied for the sole purpose of letting lodgings to persons
of the working class at a charge not exceeding 6d. a night for
each person, if certified by the Medical Officer of Health to have
due provision made for the sanitary requirements of the lodgers
using such lodging houses.
Water Supply.
During the year 1909, 98 applications were received for
certificates of water supply, and granted in each instance. Thirtyseven
notices of withdrawal of supply for various reasons were
received from the Metropolitan Water Board, and in connection
with one of these it was necessary to take legal action to obtain
a Closing Order. Additional supplies to the upper floors of
tenement houses were provided in 55 instances, and in connection
with the latter it was found necessary in eight instances
to take legal proceedings to enforce the notices served under the
provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1907.
In connection with the proceedings against the owner of a
tenement house in Meyrick Road, the following report was submitted
to the Health Committee:—