View report page

52
if the goods are second-hand, it is possible that not only the handlers of them,
but the hundreds who endeavour to pass along the narrow portion of the
footway left at their disposal will carry away home more than they bargained
for."
Another question cognate to the obstruction of the footways by shopkeepers
is the presence of costers in our streets. They only frequent the
busiest thoroughfares. The ratepayers provide the road staff to remove the
rubbish these people leave behind them. A report on an aggravated instance
of this nuisance was reported by the Road Foreman in May. The
Highways Committee, in July, had another complaint of a footway seriously
obstructed by a bootseller, and a letter complaining of the condition of The
Green due to the paper and litter left by the costers. This led the Committee
to recommend that notices be served on the stall-holders informing
them that if they did not properly clear up the roadways when they left, the
Council would be obliged to take steps to have all their stalls removed from
the footways. (See Section 58 of our own Act). In September, the Council
resolved to summons, under this Section, the owner of a fish stall, who cleansed
and gutted his fish in the roadway (which was damaged thereby), whilst the
foul water ran into a gully of the surface-water system.
Towards the end of 1908 a census of the stalls and stall-holders on
the roads of the District was prepared. This is an interesting document, as
it shows that the owners of the stalls are not always Edmonton ratepayers, but
take Edmonton money away to pay rates in places such as Wood Green, Tottenham
and Enfield, or even as far away as Mile End.
I think no ratepayer would lament the disappearance of the coster
who pays no rent nor rates for his stall, which obstructs the free and unrestricted
use by the public of the footways and roadways, and who leave his
rubbish to be cleaned up at the ratepayers' expense. The damage and
pollution of the roads and paths, especially by fish - stalls, is a serious matter
from a Public Health point of view, and I hope to see this matter firmly
dealt with by my Council in the near future. I have not noticed that the
Police give my Council any assistance in keeping the roads and footways free
from obstructions of the kind referred to.
NUMBERING OF THE HOUSES.
This is always a difficulty in a rapidly growing suburb like Edmonton,
and my Inspectors are very glad progress is being made in this matter. In
one short street I know of there are four No. 5's—this leads to delay and
confusion in paying visits.