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in this parish for the reception of the refuse on removal from
the stables, so that it might be taken away without further disturbance.
The result, so far, has been satisfactory, few complaints
having been received. It remains to be seen, however,
what will happen on the return of hot weather.
But to resume. With a view to bring pressure to bear upon
the County Council, and so prevent the abolition of the proviso
to the bye-law, a " London Horse Owners' Committee
was formed, with the solicitors to the London General Omnibus
Company as secretaries, the object being "to protect the
interests of all horse owners using peat moss litter, especially
with regard to the threatened action of the London County
Council with reference thereto." Under the heading
"The Use of Peat Moss Litter,"
this Committee addressed a circular letter to the members of
the London County Council, and the sanitary authorities,
setting out their views with reference to the proposal that
" peat moss manure should, by bye-law, be placed in the
category of offensive or noxious matter, under the provisions
of Section 16 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891 ; and
that it shall only be removed between the hours of 4 and 10
a.m., and in specially constructed vans." The committee, in
their manifesto, after stating that the authorities named " cannot
have realised the tremendous injury that would be
inflicted on them by the proposed action, proceed to set out
" some of the advantages of peat moss over straw as litter."
Among these "advantages," they allege that " peat moss acts
as a disinfectant and a deodorizer," and is " a far more active
absorbent than straw;" from which it is a natural inference
that peat manure is less offensive than straw manure. The
allegation cannot be accepted, the main ground for the desire
to control the removal of peat manure being its special
offensiveness. The committee are on safer ground when
dealing with the question of time of removal; but the hours
" 4 to 10 a.m," in the London County Council's bye-law, apply