View report page

56
Borough Markets.
Establishment or acquisition of market by a Local Authority
is provided for by Section 44, Food and Drugs Act 1938, and
with the consent of the Minister of Health such a market can
be instituted together with convenient approaches thereto and
buildings convenient for the holding of a market. Without the
consent of the person concerned, no market shall be established
in pursuance of the section so as to interfere with any rights,
powers, or privileges enjoyed within the district in respect of
a market by any person. Under Section 46, a market authority
may, with the approval of the Minister, appoint the days on
which and the hours during which markets may be held.
Section 47 provides for the fixing of stallages, tolls and other
charges.
Having regard to lack of central shopping facilities within
the Borough there is no doubt that the provision of a well
equipped market, together with adequate approaches, and well
established system of administration is an asset long overdue,
and I would submit that provision of such a market is . a
necessity having regard to Post War Planning.
Public Slaughterhouse.
A Local Authority may provide a Public Slaughterhouse
under Section 60 Food and Drugs Act 1938. The experience
of most Councils is that a slaughterhouse, vested in the Local
Authority is a most useful acquisition. In Erith there are four
privately owned and licenced slaughterhouses ; two situated in
Lower Belvedere, one in Upper Belvedere, and one in the Town
Ward. For the elimination of private slaughterhouse following
upon the provision of a Public slaughtering establishment by a
Local Authority, Section 61 of the Act enacts that a Local
Authority may acquire by agreement any premises within their
district which are used as slaughterhouses, and discontinue the
use of the premises for that purpose. Sub-section (6) of Section
61 provides for the payment of compensation by the Local
Authority to dispossessed Slaughterers for any loss sustained
by them by reason of it being no longer lawful to use the
premises as slaughterhouses.
The provision of a Public Slaughterhouse in Erith would
be a worthy Public Health improvement, and I would recommend
its consideration with regard to Post War Planning.
Requirements o£ a good Public Slaughterhouse are (1) The
premises should be in proximity to a railway (2) Not too far
from retail shops (3) Be capable of extension (4) There should
be copious water supply and adequate means for sewage disposal.