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105
Upon receipt of the notice that Inquiry was to be held, application
was made to the Local Government Board to postpone the
Inquiry in order that the Local Authorities concerned might have
an opportunity of considering the matter, but this application was
refused.
The Inquiry was commenced on the 24th April, at the Guildhall,
when Mr. Horace Avory appeared for the Local Authorities, and
the London and India Dock Company complained that tinned goods
(fruit, sardines, etc.) landed at Wharves on the River Thames are
not subjected to examination by the Sanitary Authorities, whereas
the like description of goods landed at the Docks are closely
examined by Officers of the Port Sanitary Authority, and that goods
have been diverted from the Docks to Wharves in order to escape
such examination. On Mr. Avory's representation that there had
not been sufficient notice given, the Inquiry was adjourned until the
18th May, to enable the Local Authorities to submit evidence.
On the 18th May, together with the Mayor, Chairman of the
l'ublic Health Committee and Town Clerk, I attended at the Guildhall,
City of London, and gave evidence at the adjourned Inquiry
held by the Local Government Board as to whether an " Order "
should be issued by the Local Government Board, extending the
area over which the Port Sanitary Authority should exercise jurisdiction
in the matter of unsound food so that such area shall include
other Wharves forming part of or abutting upon the Port of London.
Some time after the Inquiry the Local Government Board
forwarded copy of a letter they had addressed to the London and
India Docks Company with regard to the application of the Company
for an extention of the area over which the London Port
Sanitary Authority should exercise jurisdiction in the matter of
unsound food.
1 he letter stated that the Board had carefully considered the
inspector's Report and the evidence placed before him at the