View report page

8
parish to forcibly enter premises, schools or otherwise, save
on some definite ground. The decision establishes the
right of inspection, but shows that the right can only be
enforced on reasonable ground. What is reasonable ground
is a question for the magistrate; in the present case it was
expressly stated by Mr. Macmorran, Q.C., for the North
London Collegiate School, that had there been a child with
a sore throat, or " if anyone had smelt a smell even, or
there was hearsay evidence of a bad state of things," the
North London School Authorities would not have
objected.
It therefore comes to this: the Sanitary Officers have
power to inspect any premises whatever by permission,
tacit or actual; they have a right to inspect any premises
(save certain premises such as those belonging to her
Majesty's Government, or to Her Majesty's Navy and
Army), but in case of any opposition to the exercise of that
right, the Sanitary Officers must be prepared to show a
clear case of some suspected nuisance or offence against the
Act before a warrant for forcible entry will be granted.
All this is most reasonable with regard to private dwellings,
the Englishman's " castle " should not be lightly invaded ; but
as to schools and institutions where young persons are
collected together, the writer thinks it would be for the
public interest that they should be liable to inspection,
although no precise and definite reason for such inspection
could be given.