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the nature of the evidence which was taken, more especially as regards the
Sanitary administration of several of the Metropolitan Districts.
Some of the recommendations of the Commissioners also, if carried into
effect, would be utterly subversive of Local Self-Government and of local
self-respect, as the Local Government Board, who already have almost absolute
control of the Poor Law administration of the Metropolis, Mould be further
empowered to meddle with and control all Sanitary matters, to the virtual
extinction of all freedom of action on the part of the present Local Authorities.
On the other hand, the Report contains some useful information, and a
few practical suggestions which have reference chiefly to certain necessary
changes in the Sanitary Acts relating to the Metropolis. Alterations in the
direction indicated would, I believe, prove beneficial in their action and
helpful to the Sanitary Administrators of this vast city.
One of the suggested amendments is in connection with the Artizans'
and Labourers' Dwellings' Acts, 1808 and 1879 (Torrens' Acts), the recommendation
being to expunge by legislation the compensation clause from the
Act of 1879 which confers upon owners the right of requiring the Vestries
and District Boards to purchase any properties ordered by them either to be
demolished or to be repaired, the result being the compulsory purchase of
worthless property at a large cost by the Local Authority.
The compensation clauses were originally incorporated in the Act of 1879
in consequence of the excuse very generally made by the Vestries and District
Boards, that the enforcement of the demolition of property without compensation,
as provided for by the Act of 1868, was simply confiscation, and that the
infliction of such gross injustice had prevented them from enforcing this
provision of the Act.
By a singular coincidence, however, it was owing to the removal of this
alleged injustice by the provision for compensation, as contained in the Act
of 1879, (which, it is quite true, unfortunately gives a premium to the
owners of neglected property at the expense of the Ratepayers of the District)
that the Vestry were led, during the year, to decline to make orders
under these Acts in relation to the following properties, in respect to which
I had deemed it right to initiate proceedings by reporting the whole of the
76 houses in accordance with the 5th section of the Artizans and Labourers'
Dwellings' Acts, 1868, as being in a condition or state dangerous to health
so as to be unfit for human habitation.