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Despite repeated efforts by Council Officials, very
little was accomplished at first, except in the matter of
screening, and ultimately the Ministry of Health was
approached, and although interviews and inspections by
their officials took place, and whilst the Ministry
appeared sympathetic, nothing practical resulted.
In view of the important question of dealing with
the disposal of house and other refuse, 1 suggested to
the Health Committee that they should urge the Council
to solicit the sympathy and support of other local Sanitary
Authorities, and as a result, the Council passed a
resolution suggesting that the Ministry of Health should
bring in a Bill which should provide that a local
authority should not be permitted to send refuse into
the area of another authority, or within one mile thereof,
without the consent of that authority. A copy of this
resolution was sent to a number of other local
authorities.
The Council will remember that this resolution was
strongly supported by these authorities who sent it to
the Ministry of Health, and mainly as a result of this,
the Ministry, in July, 1922, convened and held several
conferences with representatives of the London County
Council, and the Metropolitan and other boroughs, as a
result of which these authorities undertook to use their
best endeavours to prevent nuisances at the dumps for
their refuse. Furthermore, a set of draft rules for regulating
the dumping of refuse, were issued by the
Ministry, and chiefly provided for the deposit of refuse in
layers, adequate and timely covering of earth, and
the avoidance of dumps arising above the level of the
surrounding country.
At a subsequent interview in August, 1922, a deputation
from the Council waited upon the Ministry of
Health, and was informed of the action taken by the
Ministry with the London authorities, when the Ministry
suggested that in view of the magnitude of the problem
of the disposal of London's refuse, tlie Council should
keep the Ministry informed of the results arising out of
the action so far taken by the Ministry.
Whatever may have happened in other districts, very
little improvement occurred at Messrs. Rutter's dumps.
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