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Vestry. Summonses continue to be heard by the Justices sitting in
Petty Sessions at the Vestry Hall. It is much to be desired that
the Justices should place sanitary cases at the top, instead of, as
heretofore, at the bottom of their agenda, so that the several
Inspectors might be set free at a reasonable hour to go about their
ordinary work. Sanitary cases rarely occupy much of the time of
the Court, but on many occasions the entire staff of Inspectors have
been detained till 1 or 2 p.m., waiting for their cases to be called
on. As a rule the Justices meet once a month only. A fortnightly
meeting for the hearing of sanitary cases would be very useful.
The duties of the Justices in this branch of judicial work have
increased considerably, other Sanitary Authorities having to some
extent followed the example of your Vestry in bringing their
cases before the Court.
The Work of the Sanitary Inspectors.—Tables VI. and
VIa. (Appendix) contain a summary of the work of the Sanitary
Inspectors during the year ended March 25th, 1886. Eighty*
summonses were taken out for offences under the Nuisances
Removal Acts, compared with 78, 98, and 89 in the three preceding
years. Orders were made by the Justices in nearly every
instance, for giving elfect to Notices previously served on the
defendant persons; upon whom, as the law at present stands, no
penalty can be inflicted, however serious or long continued the
nuisances for which they are responsible. Under the provisions of
Section 96 of the Public Health Act, 1875, which does not
apply to the Metropolis, the Justices have power by their Order
to inflict a penalty not exceeding five pounds, on the person upon
whom the Order is made, together with all costs. The same
power should be conferred upon Courts of Summary Jurisdiction
in London.f At present the Justices can punish for contempt of
* This number is irrespective of 50 summonses under the Adulteration Act,
18 in cases of obstruction, and 11 in cases of disobedience of Justices' Orders.
† Provision was made for enabling the Justices to inflict a penalty, in the
Public Health (Metropolis) Bill, 1883, but there was not time to pass the
measure, which, however, is certain, sooner or later, to be re-introduced.
E