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"With regard to Bye-law No. 5, which the Local Government
Board think it desirable also to retain as it at present stands, I
have already pointed out how it fails to work satisfactorily, viz.,
by reason of the fact that before proceeding to deal with any
premises under the Byelaws, a resolution of the "Vestry is required
to the effect that it is necessary to do so, and for this purpose the
Vestry very naturally asks to be furnished with the facts in each
case for their guidance. Mr. Preston, the Vestry Clerk, replies
that he has received no instructions to serve the notice upon the
landlord or owner to furnish the information required, so that a
deadlock is the result. In reply to the suggestion that the
proposed alterations would bring within the scope of the Byelaws
every lodging-house with a non-resident landlord, without
reference to the circumstances of the case, I may point out that
in accordance with a resolution of the Vestry, the circumstance
of every case must be submitted for the consideration of the
Public Health Committee before a house can be put upon the
register."
This Report was approved by your Committee and a copy
thereof forwarded to the Local Government Board in reply to
their letter upon the subject, the result being that in October
last the Board confirmed the Bye-laws as proposed, and the
obstacles hitherto in the way of carrying out this portion of the
Public Health Act were removed, and before the close of the
year preliminary steps were taken to place 200 houses upon the
register, and the number of cases of over-crowding were markedly
decreased thereby.
Bye-Laws.
Made by the Vestry of the Parish of St. Luke, Middlesex, in the
Administrative County of London, being the Sanitary Authority for
the said Parish, with respect to Houses let in Lodgings, or occupied
by Members of more than one Family.
Interpretation of Terms.
1. In these Bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires, the
following words and expressions have the meaning hereinafter
respectively assigned to them, that is to say—
" Sanitary Authority" means the Vestry of the Parish of St. Luke,
Middlesex, in the Administrative County of London.