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(3.) The provision of an adequate water supply to water-closets (under section 39 (2)
Public Health (London) Act, 1891).
(4.) Houses let in lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family (under
section 35 of the Sanitary Act).
The by-laws made under sections 16, 39 (2) and 50 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, are
similar in all respects to those made by several other authorities in London, except that in the case of
Greenwich, no by-law has been framed with regard to the removal of rubbish, filth, snow, &c., in
streets which are not repairable by the inhabitants at large. These by-laws were confirmed by the
Local Government Board in 1893.
The regulations made with respect to houses let in lodgings wore confirmed by the Local Government
Board in the year 1884. In these regulations the standard of the model by-laws as to the minimum
amount of cubic space has been adopted, viz., 400 cubic feet for each person exceeding ten years of age
in the case of a room not used exclusively as a bedroom, and 300 cubic feet in the case of a room used
exclusively as a sleeping apartment. Half these amounts are required for children under 10 years of
age. Provision is also made for periodical cleansing of the premises, paving and draining of yards,
adequate water-closet accommodation, and for the registration of such houses. No houses have hitherto
been registered under these regulations in the two parishes of Deptford.
In dealing with the question of overcrowding and of houses occupied by members of more than
one family in the first part of this report, it has been shown that defective conditions and overcrowding
were frequently found. Instances of these conditions have been given. These facts show that there is
need now for the enforcement by the sanitary authority of these by-laws, which would largely increase
their opportunity for ensuring the maintenance in proper sanitary condition of the houses occupied
by the poorer residents in the district, and for the abatement of overcrowding.
The Public Health (London) Act also empowers sanitary authorities to make by-laws for the
following purposes—
(1.) For promoting cleanliness in, and the habitable condition of, tents, vans, &c., and
for preventing the spread of infectious disease by the persons inhabiting the same.
(Section 95.)
(2.) With respect to the management of mortuaries. (Section 88.)
(3.) For removing to hospital persons brought within the district by any vessel who are
infected with a dangerous infectious disease. (Section 66.)
The Greenwich District Board have not framed by-laws for the above purposes.
During the inquiry I inspected four gipsy vans, which were temporarily located on a vacant
piece of land adjoining the railway near Deptford station. According to the information which I
obtained, it appears that this ground is used throughout the year as a halting place for gipsy vans,
during the summer for short periods, but in the winter months for several weeks at a time. The four
vans which were found there at the time of my visit contained a total population of nine adults and
four children, and were clean and well kept. In view of the fact that there is a recognised halting ground
of this character in the district, it may perhaps be desirable that the sanitary authority should exercise
their powers for making by-laws under section 95.*
Sanitary administration.—The sanitary authority for Deptford is the Board of Works for the
Greenwich district, which comprises the two parishes of St. Paul and St. Nicholas and the parish of
Greenwich. There are two committees, one for each of the parishes of St. Paul and St. Nicholas, each
consisting of all the members of the board elected by the respective vestries; and for the parish of
St. Paul there is a sanitary sub-committee. No powers are, however, delegated by the board to these
committees.
The district board meets once a fortnight; at these meetings, cases in which no steps have been
taken by owners and others to comply with the intimation notices of the sanitary authority are brought
before the board, and where necessary resolutions passed that statutory notices be served; a further
resolution is also passed that if the works be not carried out within a specified time the clerk shall take
proceedings for the abatement of the nuisances.
The sanitary staff for the two parishes of Deptford consists of the following officers—
The medical officer of health, who is engaged in private practice in the district.
5 inspectors.
2 assistants for disinfection.
One of the inspectors is occupied entirely with the duties arising out of the Notification of
Infectious Disease, and the Food and Drugs Acts. Each of the remaining four inspectors has a district
assigned to him for ordinary inspectorial duties ; they also visit the houses in their respective districts
in which cases of infectious disease have occurred, and enquire into the sanitary condition of the
premises.
Mr. Roberts states that the work of the inspectors chiefly consists of the inspection of premises
upon complaint, and the re-inspection involved in seeing that the necessary works are carried out; it has
also been customary to have house-to-house inspections made of such portions of the district as the
Committee or the medical officer of health considers necessary. A systematic house-to-house inspection
throughout the whole district has not been undertaken.
No clerical assistance is provided, each inspector makes out his own intimation and statutory
notices, and also keeps a complaint book, a journal and a report book. In the last of these, note is kept
of the conditions found on the inspection of premises, and the action taken in each case. The clerical
work is done by the inspectors at home. The inspectors report to the medical officer of health daily, at
his home, and attend each week-day morning from 10 to 10.30 a.m., at the Board's offices, 141,
*Mr. Roberts informs me that, owing to the sanitary authority having required certain works to be carried
out on this land, in view of the use to which it was put, the owner has decided to discontinue letting it out as
a halting place for gipsy vans.