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41
At the present time it ia not encouraging to attempt to
improve the dwellings of the poor by dealing with unhealthy
areas under the Acts for this purpose, which are known
by the name of Sir Richard Cross, nor would it perhaps be
advisable to think of this Act in relation to some of the areas
I have just described, but it should be stated that the Royal
Commission, which are now considering the working of these
and the Acts of Mr. Torrens, have presented an interim
report, recommending that " with a view to putting in force,
where practicable, the provisions of the Acts known as Mr.
Torrens' Acts, immediate attention should be given by the
Vestries and District Boards to any area which the Medical
Officer has reported as unsanitary, but which the local
authority, under the Act of 1875, has not included in any
scheme on the ground of the smallness of the area."
For small areas such as these, Torrens' Act are far more
applicable, and they will enable the Vestry to remove from
their district dwellings which are not only doing injury
to those who inhabit them, but which may be the means of
disease extending into other parts of the parsh.
DUSTING AND SLOPPING.
An important step taken by the Vestry during the year
1881 was that of sending into the North of Engiand a deputation,
accompanied by the Vestry Clerk, the Chief Surveyor,
and the Medical Officer of Health, with a view to ascertaining
the best mode of dealing with house and street refuse.
In my last Report I referred to this subject and to the
Vestry's condemnation of a system that had failed and still
fails to ensure the frequent and periodic removal of house
refuse. I would beg to urge upon the Vestry the further consideration
of a matter so closely related to the health of their
parishioners.
SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
There are now 51 Licensed Slaughterhouses in St. Pancras.
These have, with few exceptions, been kept in a cleanly
condition during the year, and the Bye-laws of the Vestry
complied with. Nevertheless the system of slaughtering
animals in private slaughterhouses immediately at the rear
of the butchers' shops, is one which public opinion will
not permanently approve. If public abattoirs existed, not
only would the method of slaughtering be itself under better
control, but opportunity would be given for the thorough
inspection of meat before it comes to be offered for sale.
There are now such abattoirs in many towns, and while
they are not found prejudicial to the interests of the butchers,
are a great boon to the public.