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97
In two cases proceedings had to be taken to close houses
where nuisances existed, and were permitted to continue long
after the expiration of the time for abatement allowed by the
statutory notice. These proceedings were instituted under
section 5, sub-section (7) of which enacts that—
" A closing order shall only be made where it is proved to the satisfaction
of the court that by reason of a nuisance a dwelling-house is unfit
for human habitation, and if such proof is given the court shall
make a closing order, and may impose a fine not exceeding twenty
pounds."
In two such cases closing orders were obtained, and
although the fine inflicted was only twenty shillings in each
case, the result of the proceedings can hardly fail to be beneficial,
if only by calling the attention of careless or wilfully
disobedient people to the punishment to which they render
themselves liable by allowing houses to become in such a state
as to be unfit for human habitation. It is clearly the duty of
a sanitary authority to protect the otherwise helpless poor, to
support their officers, and to vindicate their own dignity and
self-respect, so often affronted by an almost contemptuous disregard
of notices to abate nuisances : whilst, therefore, I record
the result of the proceedings with satisfaction, I would fain
hope that in all suitable cases applications to the court for
fines for offences under the Act may be the rule rather than,
as heretofore, the exception.
Hindrances to Sanitary Administration.—In the
two cases above referred to, the closing orders having been
obtained, and the fines paid, the houses were not vacated, in the
one instance until 31 days, and in the other 38 days after. These
cases illustrate two common hindrances to sanitary administration,
viz., undue delay in enforcement of the law; and
excessive waste of time of the Inspector ; some twenty visits
to each of the houses having been made between January and
the end of March. The cases were brought to the attention of
the Sanitary Committee on February 2nd, authority to apply