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14 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
Section II.—GENERAL.
The Need of Further Public Lavatory Accommodation.
Under the powers conferred by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, your
Authority constructed an underground convenience near the "Elephant and Castle,"
in the year 1893. This Lavatory was built for men only, and has proved, by its steady
and increasing income, that it Was satisfied a public want. I would again suggest as
in my Report, for 1895, vhat the Vestry considerably increase the present Public
Lavatory accommodation, which is needed, not only for the inhabitants of this populous
parish, but for the many wayfarers that pass through its busy streets. Two sites that
appear to me particularly suitable for the purpose are :—first, the junction of the Old
and New Kent Roads ; and, the other, the Obelisk at St. George's Circus. Experience
has shown that these underground conveniences become a paying parish property from
an economical point of view, particularly as the money required for their obstruction
may be borrowed under the Act. Before leaving this matter, I may, perhaps, point
out that, according to modern views, this kind of necessary accommodation should be
provided for women, as well as for men. As a first step in a right direction, a
Women's Lavatory might be added to the one existing near the "Elephant and
Castle."
Customs and Inland Revenue Acts.
SECTION 26 (2) of the ACT 53 and 54, VIC., c 8, as amended by SECTION 4 of
the ACT 54 and 55 VIC., c. 25.
SPECIAL REPORT.
During the past few days my " immediate " attention has been drawn, under the
provisions of the Customs and Inland Revenue Acts to the sanitary condition of
between 800 and 900 dwellings in this parish.
This duty has been brought to my notice by owners of property with a view to
obtaining certificates by virtue of which exemption from inhabited house duty may be
claimed under the Inland Revenue Acts.
The sudden request for these certificates is a natural consequence of the
Quinquennial Valuation now in course of settlement within the Metropolis. On a
rough calculation I estimate that applications in the case of upwards of 3,000 tenements
will be applied for within the next few weeks. If such a conjecture prove a correct
one the work entailed thoroughly and conscientiously carried out, will cover a period
of some months. The Act of 1890 s. 26 sub-section 2 provides that " the Assessment
of inhabited house duty of any house originally built or adapted by additions or
alterations and used for the sole purpose of providing separate dwellings for persons
at rents not exceeding for each dwelling the rate of 7/6 a week, and occupied only by
persons paying such rents, shall be discharged by the said Commissioners, providing
that a certificate of the Medical Officer of Health for the district in which the house is
situated, or other Medical Practitioner appointed as hereinafter provided, shall be
produced to them to the effect that the house is so constructed as to afford suitable
accommodation for each of the families or persons inhabiting it, and that due provision
is made for their sanitary requirements. The Medical Officer of Health of a district on
request by the person who would be liable to pay the bouse duty on any house in the