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149
A strong effort has been made to systematise the work of
dust-collection by dividing the parish into districts, and by providing
for the inspection of dust-bins, and for supervision of
the "dusting-gangs." The one thing needful for success is a
systematic call at every house once a week. Hitherto the rule,
or at any rate the order, has been, that a dust cart should go
through each street once a week, on a given day, and that a
call should be made at each house once a fortnight. If the
plan of a weekly call could be organised, it should be understood
that if, through default of domestic servants, or any other
cause beyond the control of your Vestry, the receptacle is not
emptied on the appointed day, no further attendance will be
given in the same week.
Delay in the removal of ashes not unfrequently arises from
the exceedingly inconvenient position of the receptacle, e.g.,
in a deep area, to which there is practically no access save
by ladders—a short one on the foot pavement, and a longer one
in the area. Apart from the question of danger to the dustmen
in the use of the ladders, it is a question whether your
Vestry should not insist on some more satisfactory provision
being made, e.g., by steps and an area gate, giving safe and
convenient access to the receptacle ? In some cases where
there are steps, householders actually refuse to allow the gate
to be unlocked.
STABLE REFUSE.
For several years I have felt it my duty to draw your Vestry's
attention to the subject of the removal, or rather the non-removal,
of stable refuse. Regulations have been framed and published
enjoining "periodical removal of manure, etc.," by the owners,
under the provisions of the Sanitary Act, 1866, which prescribes
a penalty of twenty shillings a day for default. But still, the most
frequent cause of complaint by parishioners, and the most frequent
of recurring nuisances, arises from the neglect of this
obligation. Proceedings have been taken occasionally to enforce
the regulations, but not with uniform success, the