View report page

58
27th April to 28th December, 1901, there have been 5,187 receptacles of offensive trade refuse removed,
amount paid £64 16s. 9d.; 633 loads of inoffensive trade refuse, amount paid £47 9s. 6d.; and 283
bushels of inoffensive trade refuse, amount paid £2 7s. 2d. In connection with these removals there are
126 trademen's names in the books. The collection of offensive refuse is in regular operation at 57
tradesmen's premises. The 663 inoffensive accumulations came from 63 different premises, and this
collection is intermittent, and a separate application is made for each accumulation required to be
removed. The 283 bushels of inoffensive refuse came from six separate tradesmen. The collector
hands a form filled in to the tradesman, with details of the accumulation removed, and obtains his
signature to the counterfoil. The accounts are rendered quarterly. The system was some little time
getting into order, but can now be regarded as working very satisfactorily. In connection with the
removal of offensive refuse, galvanised iron air-tight receptacles are supplied by the Council for the
use of tradesmen, an empty receptacle being left when the full one is removed."
In seven instances proceedings before the magistrate were instituted in Paddington for
the removal of offensive refuse during prohibited hours, and penalties were recovered in each case.
In Chelsea there were proceedings before the magistrate in four instances for similar offences,
fines were inflicted in three instances and the summons dismissed in one. In Westminster, proceedings
were instituted in four instances and penalties inflicted in each. In St. Pancras, proceedings
were instituted in one instance for conveyance of offensive matter by canal in an improperly
constructed carriage, and in another instance for removal during prohibited hours, fines
being recovered in each instance. In Holborn there was one prosecution for breach of by-law
and a penalty inflicted. Dr. Collingridge reports that some amount of nuisance was caused in the
City by the late removal of refuse and offal, and the irregularity of removal of fat, bones, etc., by
the contractor, and it was arranged with the Superintendent of Cleansing to collect in the Corporation
vans all refuse matter before 9 a.m., disinfecting the same as it was placed in the carts, and to
water the road regularly with a disinfectant solution whenever necessary. Dr. Annis reports
that in Greenwich, complaints as to offensive smells occasioned by the process of collecting fish
offal have been somewhat frequent, but the by-laws were not found to be infringed. He writes,
"The nuisance is doubtless often intensified by the habit which some fishmongers have of themselves
storing up their refuse for several days, and not permitting the contractor to remove the
same as often as he desires."
By-laws as to removal of offensive matter.
In my last report I stated that the committee had had under consideration the amendment
of the by-law relating to the removal of offensive matter. The existing by-law required
offensive matter to be removed in a suitable carriage or vessel, properly constructed and
furnished with a sufficient covering so as to prevent the escape of any matter or liquid therefrom,
and so as to prevent any nuisance arising therefrom. The by-law further prohibited
the removal of such matters, except during the following periods, viz., between 4 o'clock and
10 o'clock in the forenoon during the months of March, April, May, June, July, August,
September and October, and between 6 o'clock in the forenoon and 12 o'clock at noon during
the months of November, December, January and February. From the requirements of this
by-law the carriage of horsedung manure was exempt. The Public Health Committee having
had under consideration the fact that serious nuisance was caused by the removal of manure
consisting of horsedung and peat moss litter and the request for more extended hours during
which offensive matter might be removed, had in 1890 proposed to limit the extension relating
to horsedung manure to " horsedung manure with a sufficient proportion of straw to render
it inoffensive," and to extend the hours of removal to periods between 5 o'clock a.m. and
10 o'clock a.m., and from two hours before sunset to one hour after sunset in the months of
March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October, and between G o'clock a.m.
and 11 o'clock a.m., and from two hours before sunset to one hour after sunset in the months
of November, December, January and February. A firm, acting on behalf of soap makers,
tallow melters and bone boilers in London, raised objection to these hours, and later the committee
received a deputation from these trades, after which it was proposed that the hours of
removal should be between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. all the year round. The Council referred this
proposal back to the committee, and in January, 1901, the committee recommended that the
hours of removal should extend from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. all the year round. The Local Government
Board having agreed to these hours, a copy of the proposed by-law as amended was communicated
to each of the London sanitary authorities. In July, the committee reported that the
majority of the sanitary authorities objected to these hours, and the committee therefore recommended
that the Local Government Board should be asked to agree to the alteration of tho
by-law being limited to the modification with respect to horsedung manure, the hours of removal
remaining the same as in the existing by-law. The Local Government Board having intimated
their approval of the adoption of this course, the by-law as amended was confirmed. The by-law
now in force in London is, therefore, as follows—
Every person who shall remove or carry, or cause to be removed or carried, by road or water in or
through London any fecal or offensive or noxious matter or liquid, whether such matter or liquid shall
be in course of removal or carriage from within or without or through London, shall use or cause to be
used therefor a suitable carriage or vessel properly constructed and furnished with a sufficient covering
so as to prevent the escape of any matter or liquid therefrom, and so as to prevent any nuisance arising
therefrom.
Shall person shall not remove or carry, or cause to be removed or carried, such matter or liquid by
road in or through London, except during the following periods, viz.—
Between 4 o'clock a.m. and 10 o'clock a.m. in any day during the months of March, April, May,
June, July, August, September, and October.
Between 6 o'clock a.m. and 12 o'clock at noon in any day during the months of November,
December, January, and February.
This by-law shall not apply to any person removing or carrying manure, consisting only of horse
dung with a sufficient proportion of straw to render it inoffensive, and shall not apply to any person
removing or carrying in a suitable carriage or vessel as aforesaid manure consisting of horse dung and
litter other than straw.