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Council had resolved to promote, to enable sanitary authorities to require a supply of water to the
tenants of each floor in tenemented houses. The resolution of the Committee advising the promotion
of legislation had been rescinded, the Parliamentary Committee having been advised that
it was by no means clear that the present law was not sufficient to meet the case.
In commenting on this case, I observed that the magisterial decision, whilst by no means without
interest, was not binding upon other courts of summary jurisdiction; it remained to be seen,
moreover, whether it would 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."
Later in the year this same question was raised at the Marylebone Police Court, and a decision
given adverse to the views of the Woolwich magistrate. Proceedings had been taken by the
Public Health Committee of the Paddington Borough Council, to give effect to an instruction " to
secure the provision of a proper and sufficient water supply for the tenants on every floor of tenement
houses in the borough." Certain houses had been inspected, and letters were addressed to
the owners requesting them to provide additional water supply. Many complied with the request;
in other instances nothing was done, and proceedings were instituted. A test case was
taken, and dismissed with costs against the Council. In giving his decision, the magistrate held
that the words of the section, "proper and sufficient supply," referred to the source of the supply,
and not to the provision of taps within the house. He did not think the section was intended to
deal with any case in which the occupier might be put to inconvenience. The Council's solicitor
considered the magistrate's opinion correct, having regard to the wording of the Act, and it was
recommended that " no further action be taken in the matter." But the Council adopted an
amendment to the effect that " The attention of the London County Council be drawn to the magistrate's
decision, and that they be urged to take the necessary steps to secure an adequate and
accessible supply of water to floors in tenement houses." I advised the Council to support the
action taken by the Paddington Borough Council, by requesting the County Council to introduce
a clause in their next General Powers Bill to attain the object in view. No action was taken.
It is to be hoped that the Public Health Committee of the County Council will revert to their
original view as to the necessity for legislation, and set up again the rescinded resolution to this
effect, for there can be no doubt as to the commonly prevalent inadequacy of the arrangements for
the supply of water to the upper floors of tenemented and lodging houses; there being, as the Committee
stated, in many, if not in most, of such houses but a single tap, and that in the basement
or on the ground floor. It would obviously, therefore, be a great convenience to have a water
supply on every floor of a tenemented house; 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 Representatives of the Borough Councils, held at the County Hall in July, 1904, 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 further mentioned that the County Council have been 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 desired direction, 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.
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