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16
The Board adopted the foregoing report and decided
further to suggest the insertion in the Bill of a clause to
the effect that no house newly erected in the Metropolis
should be occupied before the Sanitary Authority had
issued a certificate to the effect that such house was
properly drained and fit for human habitation. Manyother
Sanitary Authorities also took steps in opposition
to the provisions mentioned in the foregoing report and
to other clause of the Bill, but Mr. Ritchik stood firmly
by most of the provisions as introduced, and he was
supported by the majority of the Grand Committee. The
following further report on the subject was made to the
Board by the General Purposes Committee:—
"Your Committee have considered the Public Health (London) Bill, as passed by
the House of Commons Standing Committee on Law. The suggestions of the
Board that the provisions of the Bill as introduced relating to the cleansing of foot
paths should be amended so that the occupiers and owners of premises should not be
liable therefor, but that such cleansing should be carried out by the sanitary
authority, and for an amendment of the provision relating to the conveyance of
offensive matter along streets, have been adopted. The clause of the Bill which
empowered the County Council to dispense with or modify the provisions relating
to underground dwellings, which was objected to by this Board has been altered so as
to give such powers to the Local Government Board. The clause providing for the
payment of 'a reasonable sum' to persons prohibited from carrying on their trade
or business in consequence of suffering from infectious disease, and the provision
which would have required the approval of the Loudon County Council to an
arrangement between different sanitary authorities for the use of the same disinfecting
apparatus, which were also objected to by this Board, have been struck out
of the Bill. The following provisions, however, which were strongly objected to
by this Board and by other District Boards and Vestries, have been passed by the
Parliamentary Committee in practically the same form in which they were
introduced, viz.:—
"Clause 22 (1), which provides that the removal of house and street refuse by
a sanitary authority shall be deemed to be a business within the meaning
of the olause of the Bill relating to offensive trades, and that the London
County Council may take proceedings with regard thereto as if the
County Council were a sanitary authority.
"Clause 22 (2), which would give the County Council the powers of a sanitary
authority for the purpose of dealing with premises used by a local sanitary
authority for the treatment or disposal of street or house refuse.
"Clause 28 (2), which imposes a fine of £50 upon a sanitary authority if a
street (including the footway) is not properly swept and cleansed and the
refuse collected and removed therefrom.
"Clause 29 (1b), which imposes a fine of £50 upon a sanitary authority if the
house refuse is not removed from any premises at the ordinary period, or
within 48 hours after notice from the occupier of the premises.