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proceedings were successfully taken for recovery of the penalty
(three pounds) for an infringement of the regulations; although, as
it is scarcely necessary to mention, your Vestry have no statutory
power of control over the slaughter-houses; the position of "local
authority" for all London (the City excepted) having been vested
by the Legislature in the Metropolitan Board of Works. It is
quite right that this Board should be a local authority for making
regulations, so as to secure uniformity for the whole Metropolis,
but the Sanitary Authorities should have concurrent jurisdiction,
as local authorities, to enable them to enforce the provisions of
the regulations.
The business of a slaughterer of cattle has not been "established
anew " in Kensington since the passing of the Act.
The number of private slaughter-houses in the Metropolis,
which in 1874 was 1,429, had fallen, in October, 1885, to 775.
Few businesses have been established anew during the eleven
years the Act has been in operation, and not one in 1885.
COWSHEDS.
The licensed cowsheds are 14 in number; 9 in North
Kensington, and 5 in South Kensington. The names of the
licensees, and the localities of the licensed premises, are set out
in Table XII. (Appendix). The several premises were inspected,
in July, by the Works, Sanitary, and General Purposes Committee,
and were "found in a satisfactory condition," with the exception
of one empty shed, the license for which subsequently lapsed.
The sheds are licensed for the keeping of 189 cows, but contained
101 only, at the time of inspection. The several premises have
been systematically inspected throughout the year, although
your Vestry have no statutory powers in regard to them, the
Metropolitan Board being the Local Authority in respect of
cowsheds, as explained in the following section.