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145
In 1899, consequent upon the report of Dr. Bulstrode and the urgent
representation of the Corporation as Port Sanitary Authority, a Bill was
introduced into the House of Lords entitled "An Act for the Protection
of Public Health against Danger arising from the Consumption of Unwholesome
Oysters."
This Bill dealt with the question by giving powers—
(i.) To enter upon any oyster laying and take samples.
(ii.) To prohibit the sale of any oysters from any laying found to
be fouled by sewage, giving the owner ten days' notice and allowing
him a hearing, with the right of appeal to the Local Government within
a period of 21 days.
The penalty for so selling oysters after prohibition is a fine of £5.
(iii.) The Local Government Board was empowered to act in default
of the Authority ; and
(iv.) A Clause giving His Majesty in Council power to prohibit the
importation of any oysters from foreign layers known to be
contaminated.
The Authority in the Bill as originally drafted was the County Council,
but this was changed by the Select Committee to the Sea Fisheries
Committee.
Your Medical Officer (acting for the Port Sanitary Authority) gave
evidence before the Select Committee as to the advisability of entrusting the
powers to Port Sanitary Authorities on the following grounds:—
(i.) So far as London is concerned, the Corporation's jurisdiction as
Port Sanitary Authority includes some important layers within its
limits, and that the effect of the Bill as drafted would be to give concurrent
jurisdiction within these limits to another Authority.
(ii.) That it would be an unwise step to give this power (as was
suggested in the amendment) to bodies like Sea Fisheries Committees,
who had no Sanitary Officers, no Sanitary Authority, and who were in
no wise responsible to or even in relation with the Central Health
Authority.
(iii.) That the Corporation, while maintaining the sanitary control
of their district entirely at their own expense, had all the machinery
required for the purposes of inspection, viz., Medical Officers, Sanitary
Inspectors, Launches, &c., and were quite prepared to accept this further
duty if entrusted to them.
(iv.) That so far back as June, 1897, the Port Sanitary Authority,
impressed with the danger to the public health, had communicated with
the Local Government calling attention to the position, pointing out that
they had no legal power to deal with the question, and asking them to
consider the advisability of constituting the Corporation as the Authority
for the inspection of oyster beds and layings within the Estuary of the
Thames, and obtaining for them such powers as might be necessary.