London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Kensington 1890

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

This page requires JavaScript

91
the lessee, should be responsible for the amendment of structural
defects which existed, but were not discovered, at the time when
the contract was made.
Underground Rooms.—The provisions of section 103 of the
Metropolis Management Act, 1855, are considerably extended by
section 34. Where two or more underground rooms—the expression
" cellar " is no longer used—are occupied together, each of
them is to be deemed to be separately occupied as a dwelling
within the meaning of the section. The provisions of clause 34 (1)
(a) to (i) are, at the expiration of six months after the Act comes
into operation, to extend to underground rooms let or occupied
separately as dwellings before the passing of the Act—but considerable
dispensing and modifying powers are to be vested in the
County Council. The powers and duties of the District Surveyors
as respects underground rooms, are to be transferred to officers of
the Sanitary Authority, who will report to such Authority, and a
report need not be made to the Coimty Council.
Power of Entry.—The power of entry is enlarged absolutely,
or on the Order of a Justice (sec. 6), for various purposes, in several
sections of the Bill.
Stable Manure, die.—Section 18 extends the powers of the
Local Authority in respect of the removal of filth. The Sanitary
Inspector is authorised to serve a notice on the owner or occupier,
e.g., of a stable, requiring him to remove a collection of manure,
and if this is not done within 24 hours, the manure may be
removed and disposed of by the Sanitary Authority at the cost of
the occupier, or (when there is no occupier) the owner of the
premises. The Consolidation Bill (sec. 28) enables the Sanitary
Authority to collect and remove stable and cow-house manure
with the consent in writing of the owners ; but I have always
contended that it should be the duty of the Authority to remove
all such manure, and indeed the offensive refuse of all trades, at
the cost of the producers. Only thus shall we be able to get rid