View report page

51
the best possible case against the regulations upon the enquiry, or
else to apply for permission temporarily to appoint an additional
inspector and a clerk, so that we can set about inspection and registration.
If after twelve months' experience the bye-laws are found
to be useless I feel sure that the Local Government Board will
relieve us of the burden.
CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE ACT.
Applications for certificates under this Act for 45 houses, containing
some 400 separate tenements, have been received by me.
The premises were carefully examined, and I have granted 25 certificates
and refused 20. If after examination I am able to certify
that the house for which the certificate is requested is so constructed
as to afford "suitable accommodation" for each of the families or
persons inhabiting it, and that "due provision is made for their
sanitary requirements," the Landlord is granted a certain relief as
to inhabited house duty.
There are no fixed regulations under which such tenements may
be certified. The granting or withholding of the certificate is left
entirely to the discretion of the Medical Officer of Health for the
district in which the premises are situated.
I have hitherto held that the "accommodation" to be "suitable"
should be in accordance with the Building Acts and the bye-laws of
the Vestry and the County Council.
"Due provision for sanitary requirements" I have held to mean
separate W.C., sink, water tap, copper, and dust receptacle for each
tenement. The construction of the W.C. and the drainage is to be
in accordance with the bye-laws of the Council and of the Vestry.
Unless these requirements have been complied with I have refused
to grant the certificate.
None of the applications present any special features except the
following:—
1 to 35, Culham Buildings, owned by the London County Council.
This block consists of five floors, with seven tenements on each,
three of which are single room lettings and four others are two room
c 2