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50
Unfortunately a good deal of feeling seems to have been imported
into the discussion, both at the County Council and at the Vestry.
So far as I am concerned, I have always advised my Sanitary
Authority to the best of my judgment, and have never felt hurt or
offended at my advice being rejected. Reference to my past annual
reports will show that I have always disclaimed any experience in
the working of these regulations. I merely advised that they should
be enforced tentatively. My opinion at that time was that the
registration of a few bad lodging houses would be followed by such
an obvious improvement that the regulations would soon be extended
to other houses of a similar class, but I certainly had no idea that,
when I made the suggestion, I was bringing such a hornet's nest
round my ears.
My opinion as to the usefulness of the bye laws was supported by
your Chief Sanitary Inspector, who has had practical experience in
their working in Chelsea. The only point upon which we differed
was that of machinery. I suggested a limited application of the
bye-laws without any increase of staff. Mr. Foot demurred to this
on the ground that the working of the newly-arranged department
would be hampered, as the officers would make the additional duties
an excuse for shirking more important work, such as house-to-house
inspection. I now withdraw my original suggestion, and quite
fall in with Mr. Foot's view of the matter; for I feel sure that the
bye-laws could not be efficiently worked without an increase of staff.
It has been suggested that as Bethnal Green is acknowledged to be
doing such excellent work under the Public Health Acts without
the bye-laws, refusal to enforce them should be condoned by the
Local Government Board. This seems to me a very inadequate
excuse and one not likely to be entertained. It resembles that of
the dirty boy who pleads that, as he has carefully washed his hands
and face, it will be unnecessary for him to perform a similar operation
on the remainder of his body.
Since this report was commenced the Council has made complaint
to the Local Government Board and Bethnal Green has been called
upon for its defence.
It now remains either to set the Council at defiance and advance