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Vestry, "Whether the provisions of the various Acts have been
and are being enforced by the Vestry as fully as the circumstances
of the Parish demand, and if not, to advise as to the steps it is
desirable to take for their better enforcement; and also whether
any amendment of the law may appear necessary?" The first
step taken by the Committee was to obtain reports from the
Surveyor and the Medical Officer of Health, " with respect to
any special matters which in their judgment have not hitherto
received, but which should receive, the attention of the Vestry."
The reports of the said officers, in the result, formed the basis of
the Committee's enquiry and report, and with that report, which
was unanimously adopted by your Vestry, were published and
widely circulated. It will suffice here, therefore, to say, for my
own part in the matter, that attention was frankly called to all of
the points which appeared to require consideration, whether
regard were had to failure to exercise existing powers or to need
for additional powers. The Committee expressed their views on
each point raised and made valuable suggestions in regard to
" better enforcement " of the law, and to the need for " amendment
of the law." Their conclusions, however, were reassuring,
for they found that " the Acts referred to are, up >11 the whole,
satisfactorily administered in Kensington," and that the Acts
themselves are also fairly sufficient, delect taking the form rather
of difficulty in putting the law into speedy operation than in the
terms of the law itself.
My report dealt, in sections, with the following subjects:—
1. The housing of the working 14& 15 Vic., c. :S4 ; 29 Vic., c.
, 28 ; 30 Vic., c. 28.
classes.
2. Underground rooms. 18&19 Vic., c. 120, s. 103, p.
57 ; 25 & 26 Vic., .. 102, s. 62,
p. 195* : 18 & 19 Vic., c. 122,
s. 23, p. 283.
55. Construction of drains. 18 & 19 vic., c. 120, s. 79, p.106.
4. Inspection of drains, &c. 18 & 19 Vic ., c.120,s.82, p..44
5. Vestry to cause work to be done at 18 & 19 Vic.,'' 12_c- ss- £!- 81,
85. pp. 4o ; & 25 & 26
owner's expense. Vic., c. 102, s. 64, p. 196.
* The •' page " referred to is in " Woolrych.' 2nd edition.