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156
(d) Nuisances.
"Bad drainage, faulty closets, filth per sc, &c., are, in our opinion,
grounds for action rather under the Nuisances Removal and Sanitary Acts;
but when affecting a whole dwelling-house, or when combined with
faults of site and construction and general want of repair, they justify
action also under the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
"In all the above cases the question of 'degree' comes in: it is,
indeed, this question of degree that renders precise definition impossible:
general principles can alone be laid down."
The above report formed the principal subject for consideration
at the second meeting of the Conference, held 23rd January
last, at which the Chairman (Mr. Beachcroft, Vice-Chairman of
the Housing of the Working Classes Committee), after stating
that the proceedings would have to terminate with the current
meeting, observed that "the closing of the Conference would not
interfere either with a suggestion that there should be another
Conference called at a later date, or with the Vestries themselves
holding a Conference of their own, and then submitting any conclusions
arrived at to the Council, which might lead to a future
Conference." He added that "the Committee would be prepared
to advise the Council to authorise the holding of another Conference
if desired."
In the course of the discussion, after the report of the
Medical Officers of Health had been received, a resolution was
proposed by Mr. Mark Judge (Paddington Vestry), and seconded
by Mr. H. C. Saunders, Q.C., to the effect:—
"That the report of the Medical Officers of Health be referred to a Committee,
now to be appointed, to consider and report on the same to
a future meeting of the Conference, to be convened either by the
Committee of the Council, or by the Committee appointed to consider
the report, with the view to the adoption of some principle in
accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting."
The mover of the resolution observed that, "with the light
which the Medical Officers had thrown upon the matter, if their
report were referred to a Committee, a report might result which
might form the basis of a common understanding between the
Council and the Vestries." The seconder, moreover, "thought