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98
for closing orders being desired. The Committee decided to
inspect the premises, and having done so, on 8th February,
they unanimously decided that application for closing orders
should be made. Summonses were applied for on February
16th. The hearing took place on February 23rd ; closing
orders were made by the justices, and were served on the
agents to the owner, forthwith. The fact that such orders had
been made was reported to the occupying tenants of the
houses on the same day by the Inspector, and notice to yield
possession was served upon them by the agents in the
course of the same week. But no active steps were taken to
secure the execution of the orders, for some time ; not, indeed,
until the agents were told that if the premises were not closed
forthwith further proceedings would be instituted. Then the
agents said they would apply to the stipendiary magistrate at
the police court for an ejectment order, in one of the cases
which admitted of this form of procedure, which usually occupies
several weeks How they would have dealt with the other
case I do not know. But it became unnecessary to take proceedings,
the people having cleared out of the houses on the
26th March and 2nd April respectively.
I recommended a reference of the subject, generally,
to the Law and Parliamentary Committee, that we might be
advised what further steps, if any, could be taken in similar
cases, to accelerate the vacation of premises after the service of
closing orders ; and whether, when an application is made for
a closing order, the occupying tenants of the house could be
joined with the owner or landlord, as defendants, so that
copies of the order might be served upon them also, so as to
make them liable, in case of disobedience, to the fine prescribed
in section 5 (9) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891),
which directs that " If a person knowingly and wilfully acts
contrary to a . . . . closing order he shall be liable to a
fine not exceeding forty shillings a day during such contrary
action." In the cases referred to, the agents having alleged