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54
recourse to compulsory powers: and the diligence or success o
an officer is by no means to be guaged by the number of notices
or summonses served in his district. In another section (Sanitary
Staff, page 47), I have referred to the great alteration
made in the arrangements for carrying out the work of inspection,
and which are of too recent date to call for critical
remark.
I take occasion, however, to renew the expression of my regret
at the loss of Inspector Langman's services, a regret which is
increased by the fact that his retirement was due to complete
failure of health. Inspector Wood, after 23 years service, well
deserved his retirement.
LICENSED SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
The number of licensed slaughter-houses has undergone no
change since last year. There are 21 north and 10 south of the
Uxbridge Road, total 31 (vide Table 11, Appendix, for names of
licensees, localities, &c.) The several premises have been inspected
as usual; and I presume the bye laws relating to them
have been duly observed by the licensees, no complaint having
been reported by the sanitary inspectors, and no proceedings
having been taken for offences under the bye-laws by the officers of
the "local authority" (Metropolitan Board of Works).
LICENSED COWSHEDS.
The licensed cowsheds are now 30 in number, viz., 19 north of
the Uxbridge Road, and 11 south thereo, (vide Table XII., Appendix
for names of Licensees, Localities, &c.) In the case of sheds
newly licensed within the last two or three years, the requirements
of your Vestry have been carried into effect by the
decisions of the Justices, who have limited the number of cows
allowed to be kept so as to ensure a space of 800 cubic feet for
each animal. This requirement is so reasonable that it ought
now to be insisted on in all cowsheds.*
In former reports I have enlarged on the reasons for placing
cowsheds and dairies under regulation by bye-laws, I propose
now, therefore, only to show what progress has been made in the
matter, which is one of great sanitary interest. It will be remembered
that the "Public Health (Metropolis) Bill, 1877,"
proposed inter alia to confer powers on the Metropolitan Board
of Works to enable them to frame bye-laws for regulating the
construction of cowsheds, and the conduct of the business of a cowkeeper.
The Bill, however, was withdrawn subsequent to the second
feading. The Metropolitan Board of Works, moreover, were not
satisfied with the clause referred to (69th) because it did not give
*The Vestry have since resolved to adopt the 800 feat standard for all cowsheds
(May, 1878).