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52
obstructions, &c., and the systematic inspection of marine stores
and other offensive trades, public and semi-public urinals, &c.
"And here your Committee would observe that subject to the
sanction of the Chief Commissioner, which should if possible be
obtained, the Police might render important service to the public
and to your Vestry, by co-operating with the Inspectors in enforcing
the provisions of the law in respect of street obstructions
and cognate matters.
With reference to matters requiring the attendance of the Inspectors
at the Police Court, and it appearing that such attendance
has often occasioned considerable loss of time owing to the pressure
of business at the Court, yonr committee beg to recommend that
it be an instruction to the Clerk of the Vestry to endeavour to
make an arrangement with the magistrates so that Vestry cases
(emergencies only excepted) may be heard at a fixed hour on
one day in the week.
"But as many charges, e.g., for obstructions of the public
footways, &c., might be equally well dealt with by the Justices of
the Peace sitting at the Vestry Hall, and much time be thereby
saved, your Committee recommend that such cases be taken
before the Justices when practicable.
"Moreover, the Justices being the Licensing Authority for
Slaughter Houses and Cowsheds, it appears to your Committee
that subject to the same reservation on the point of convenience,
summonses for breaches of the slaughter-houses' bye-laws, and for
nuisances arising in connection with cowsheds, &c., should also be
taken before the Justices. Your Committee, however, in making
this recommendation, feel that considerable latitude should be
allowed to the Clerk's discretion, and they make it subject to this
reservation.
Your Committee have already referred to the necessity of
system in the duty of house inspection, and in order that the
Inspectors may be withdrawn as little as possible from this important
work, and it appearing that letters are frequently addressed
to the Inspectors requiring their attendance in various parts of the
parish for purposes which on inspection prove to be beyond their
powers, and thus much valuable time has been wasted, your Committee
recommend that all letters addressed to a Sanitary Inspector
should be deemed to be addressed, and should be submitted
to the Medical Officer of Health as head of the Sanitary
Department, and his instructions taken with reference thereto.
"Your Committee having been informed that it has been customary
for the Inspectors to be in attendance at all meetings of
your Vestry and of the Works, Sanitary, and General Purposes
Committee, and that their presence is very seldom required, recommend
that the attendance of the Inspectors (Special Inspector
Rudman only excepted), at such meetings be dispensed with,