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the Housing of the Working Classes (England) Act, 1885.
The Committee concur, in regard to the necessity for amendment
of the law in relation to the Water Supply question; and
with reference to the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order,
and to the Regulations framed under the Slaughter-houses Act,
they refer to the fact that the Yestry have, on various
occasions, fully endorsed the views of the Medical Officer, and
have urged other Sanitary Authorities to support their efforts
to obtain amendment of the law.
After dealing with "Recommendations" contained in the
Surveyor's Report, which treated of "matters which can only
indirectly be deemed of a sanitary nature, viz., by tending to
prevent the creation of nuisances," the Committee, in "supplementary"
observations, refer to the need for legislative
enactment to provide for "notice to be given to the Sanitary
Authority when it is intended to alter the drainage of an
existing house or building." They would be glad to see some
such machinery, for adapting the law to the requirements of
the times, available in London, as that contained in the Public
Health Act, 1875, enabling the Sanitary Authority to make
and alter bye-laws for carrying out necessary provisions in
regard to construction and drainage of houses. The Committee
refer to the need of a "Consolidating Act bringing to a focus
the scattered enactments on sanitary and administrative
matters," and "note with satisfaction that such a codification,"
so far as Sanitary and Nuisances Removal Acts are concerned,
was contemplated by the Public Health (Metropolis) Bill, 1885,
introduced in August,1885,by the then, and now, Prime Minister,
Lord Salisbury. They observe that, as the said Bill" will finally
clear the Statute Book of 11 statutes, all of which are already
repealed as regards the rest of England, it cannot fail to prove
very useful to sanitary authorities and officials alike, should it
ultimately become law." The Committee conclude their repoit
with a reference to the necessity for "a similar measure dealing
with the Metropolis Management and Building Acts."
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