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75
VI.—LEGISLATION.
During the year, the following Public Acts of health interest to the
Metropolis were added to the Statutes : —
61 & 62 Vict., chap. 16.—An Act to provide for the protection of dangerous
places on Canals in the County of London. (Canals Protection (London) Act, 1893.)
61 & 62 Vict., chap. 49.—An Act to amend the law with respect to Vaccination.
{Vaccination Act, 1898.)
Canals Protection (London) Act, 1898.—The principal sections in this Act are
1, 2, 3, and 8, and they explain the scope of the measure.
1.—If in the opinion of any local authority any part of a canal within the
jurisdiction of that local authority, or the bank or towing.path thereof is so
insufficiently protected at any place where it abuts upon any public highway
existing at the time of the passing of this Act as to involve danger to human life,
such local authority may by notice in writing require the canal company to erect
and maintain such fences, gates, turnstiles, or rails on any part of the bank or
towing.path, or on adjacent property of the canal company, as may in the opinion
of the local authority be required to obviate such danger. Provided that no fences,
gates, turnstiles, or rails shall be required to be erected which would be between
the waterway of the canal and the towing.path thereof, or which would otherwise
interfere with the free passage of traffic along the canal or towing.path.
2.—If the canal company refuse to comply with any notice under this Act, or
fail from one month from receipt of any such notice to comply therewith, it shall
be lawful for a court of summary jurisdiction by order on complaint by the local
authority to determine, after due inquiry, whether any such danger exists, and
whether the works required by any such notice are necessary, and such as the
canal company may reasonably be required to carry out, and whether the whole or
any such works shall be carried out, and to limit, a time within which any works
shall be executed, and to determine whether the costs of any such works and the
future maiutenance thereof shall be borne by the local authority or the canal
company or in what proportions between them.
3.—If any such order be not complied with by the canal company within
the time so limited, the local authority may execute the works necessary tor
compliance with such order, and may recover the costs thereof from the canal
company, so far as payable by them.
* * * *
8.—In this Act—
"Canal company" means any company or person, in possession of a
canal or any part thereof. " Local authority " means and includes
the London County Council, a Vestry or District Board of Works under
the Metropolis Management Acts, the Mayor, Commonalty, and citizens
of the City of London, or the Woolwich Local Board of Health, as the
case may be.