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52
Your Medical Officer reported at the time that this was an inadvisable step
to take, inasmuch as the condition of the streets so far as the removal of dust
and refuse was concerned was most unsatisfactory, and dangerous to the
public health, and that no efficient solution of this question could be arrived
at until the Corporation had power to regulate the pattern of receptacle, and
the time of removal.
These powers were provided for in the Bill as drafted, and as any postponement
of legislation on the subject would undoubtedly have beep detrimental
to the interests of the City, he expressed the hope that this matter
would be re-considered.
As the result of such representation it was decided to proceed with the
measure as amended. This course was adopted, and the Bill finally received
the Royal Assent on the 22nd July last.
The only section coming within the province of your Medical Officer is
number 4, which enacts that:—
"4. Notwithstanding anything contained in any Act of Parliament
"the inmates and- occupiers of any house within the City who do not
"deposit their house refuse in the ashpit attached to the building of
"which they are the inmates or occupiers shall deposit such house refuse
"before eight o'clock in the morning on the curb stone of the foot
"pavement in a street and all house refuse deposited in a street in
"accordance with the provisions of this Act or of The Metropolitan
"Streets Act 1867 shall be contained in a box barrel or receptacle of a
"prescribed pattern or patterns. The Corporation may make bye-laws
"for giving effect to this section."
Byelaws in accordance with the above provisions are now under consideration.
They will require the approval of the Local Government Board
before they become operative.
NUISANCE FROM DUSTBINS, &c.
With the object of preventing the nuisance and danger to health involved in
the "sorting over" of the dust receptacles in the streets by persons seeking
materials which they could profitably dispose of, the Commissioner of Police
gave instructions that due warning was to be given to such individuals that the
dust was the property of the Corporation, and that the removal was forbidden,
and that if the offence continued after such caution their names and addresses
would be taken, and the necessary proceedings taken to put an end to a filthy
and dangerous practice.