View report page

39
absence of information, could not have acted differently. I have
only to add that when the Kensington butchers found it necessary
to provide separate lairage, they succeeded in every instance
in doing so, and not one slaughter-house was closed as a result of
your Vestry's opposition on this ground. I had the satisfaction,
moreover, of being assured by several of the butchers that they
were well pleased with the alterations and improvements in their
slaughter-houses, which they had not willingly undertaken in the
first instance. In several cases these alterations amounted practically
to re-construction, and the improvement was really very
great, and necessarily of a permanent character.
In leaving this subject, I think it right to explain that the
reason for entering into it so fully was, that the past year was
a critical one, as the first under the operation of the new Act and
the Bye-laws. It seemed only just, moreover, that the prominent,
and I may add, exceptional and successful position your Vestry
assumed in dealing with an important sanitary question, should
be placed on record. It may be reasonably hoped that other sanitary
authorities will be encouraged to follow so good an example,
and not again surrender one of their most important duties to
the " Board " which, at the utmost, has only concurrent powers in
the execution of the Act, and is unprovided with a sanitary staff.
LICENSED COWSHEDS.
The licensed cowsheds, 27 in number, viz., 15 in the north,
and 12 in the south sanitary district, were inspected by the
Works Sanitary and General Purposes Committee in September,
and considerable improvements made in the ventilation of several.
The licenses were renewed in every case save that of Mr. Burgar,
of Thistle Grove, which was successfully opposed by gentlemen
living in the locality, on account of the offensive smells alleged to
be due to the manner in which the business had been conducted.
Mr. Burgar appealed; but the case did not come into Court, as it
appeared that the decision of the magistrates in respect of cowshed
licenses is final.
The Committee, in a report on the cowsheds which they viewed
in July of the current year, expressed an opinion with which I
fully agree, on the necessity of legislative powers being given to
enable sanitary authorities to frame bye-laws for regulating the
conduct of the business of a dairyman, and the structure of the
premises (cowshed and dairy) in which the business is carried
on.* So many illustrations have been afforded in late years of the
*" Your Committee are satisfied of the necessity of powers being conferred on
"Local Sanitary Authorities " to enable them to frame bye-laws for the regulation
of the structure of the premises, and the conduct of the business of a cowkeeper or
dairyman. Until such powers are conferred, your sanitary staff can only insist that
the premises shall be kept clean ; that the manure shall be regularly removed, and
that ventilation shall be duly attended to. In default your Vestry may object to
the renewal of the license. In the respects specified, and particularly as regards
ventilation, the improvements effected by order of your Vestry last year, are not
inconsiderable." Report of Works, Sanitary, and General Purposes Committee,
July, 1876.