View report page

24
of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, 1873, on
noxious businesses it even went beyond that report—whose
recommendations were considered by far too lenient to the trades
interested; and did not adopt the very moderate suggestions of the
Committee for the protection of the Public Health. The measure,
moreover, had been "hurried through the House at such a rate, that
there had been no time to oppose it; and no one appeared to be
acquainted, beforehand, with its provisions, excepting those interested
in the affected trades, to whom alone it could be deemed
acceptable. The Bill was ordered to be printed on the 15th June.
It was read a second time on the 3rd July, but copies of it were
not procurable by the public authorities or by private individuals
until Monday, the 6th. It passed through Committee, apparently
without opposition or comment, on the 7th, and had been read a
third time and passed on that day (the 10th). The Medical
Officer of Health informed your Committee that the Society of
Medical Officers of Health had considered the measure, and had
seen the Under Secretary of State, Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson thereon,
and that, finding there was no hope of the Government adopting
their suggestion of withdrawing the Bill and passing a continuing
Act for one year, with a view to deliberate legislation in 1875,
they had proposed certain amendments, which Sir H. SelwinIbbetson
had promised to take into consideration."
The Chairman of your Law and Parliamentary Committee, upon
the reading of the above report at the meeting of your Vestry, held
July 22nd, moved that a petition be presented against the Bill, and
this step was carried out on the following day at an adjourned
meeting. The Chairman and several other Members of your Vestry
accompanied by your clerk and myself, waited upon Lord Lawrence
at the House of Lords the same day, and obtained his Lordship's
consent to present the petition. We also addressed ourselves to
other Peers with a view to amendments in the Bill —for it was
hopeless to attempt to throw it out. Your clerk and myself had
interviews subsequently with the Earl of Airlie and Lord Lawrcnce,
and I had a correspondence with the Earl of Beauchamp,
(the Lord Steward) who had charge of the Bill, the ultimate
effect being to obtain some useful amendments, viz.:—
Clause 2 was enlarged by including in the list of businesses,
absolutely prohibited to be established anew, the several businesses
of Blood Boiler, Bone Boiler, and Manufacturer of Manure.
Clause 3 was also enlarged by adding to the list of businesses
that may not be established anew without the sanction of the Local
Authority, (all existing businesses to be made subject to Bye-laws)
the following words:— "Any other business which the Local
Authority may, with the sanction of the Local Government Board,
declare by order published in the London Gazette, to be an offensive
business."