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(6) provide adequate means for the artificial lighting of every common staircase
in that building and keep such means efficient and lighted daily from
one hour after sunset until eleven o'clock in the afternoon :
Provided that in the case of a common staircase leading to not more than two
separate or self-contained flats or tenements in a two-storey tenement building the
owner of such building shall not be required to light or keep lighted such means for
artificial lighting as aforesaid."
On a reference from the Metropolitan Standing Joint Committee the
Association of Metropolitan Town Clerks were invited to draft a method
of procedure for the guidance of the metropolitan sanitary authorities,
and the following suggestions of the association were adopted:—
"(a) That each Metropolitan Borough Council should prepare a schedule of
tenement buildings within its area and cause a survey of the same to be made with
a view to ascertaining which of the staircases do not already contain the adequate
lighting by day and/or by night contemplated by the section.
(b) That in any case in which it appears to the Borough Council as the result
of this survey that any staircase is not so lit and that it is practicable so to light it
either by day or by night or both, a letter be sent in the first place to the owner
drawing his attention to the section and asking him what steps he proposes to take
in order to make such provision by the 1st August, 1928.
(c) That in the event of his proposals being regarded as reasonably sufficient
they be acccpted, and that if not, he be invited to amend his proposals in such direction
as the Borough Council may think necessary or desirable.
(d) That if the owner still dissents he be afforded an opportunity of placing
his views personally before the appropriate Committee of the Borough Council.
(e) That the Borough Council, by inspection through a Committee or a
sub-committee, should satisfy itself that the owner is in default before taking
proceedings."
A survey of the tenement buildings in the City was made and a schedule
prepared. Of the 107 tenements surveyed 6 were found to contain staircases
in which there was inadequate means of artificial lighting. In all
cases there was satisfactory natural lighting. The six owners were
communicated with as to the lack of artificial lighting and requested to
provide means for the same before 1st August, 1928, the date on which
the section of the Act comes into force.
L.C.C. Draft Drainage By-Laws made under See. 39 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891.—The draft revised by-laws, to which brief
reference was made in the Annual Report for 1926, contain provisions
relating to water-closets, urinals, earth-closets, privies, cesspools, ashpits
and receptacles for dung. The requirements of the existing
by-laws as to the situation, lighting and ventilation of water-closets
have been amended or modified in order to meet the present-day
conditions of site limitations and the greater height and depth below
ground of modern buildings. Important new provisions regarding the