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140
neglect of domestic servants to allow the refuse to be removed
when the periodical call of the dustman is made. Nuisance,
in the sanitary sense, need not arise even from a full dust-bin:
when it does occur it is due to improper use of the receptacle
by the deposit therein of animal and vegetable matters; of
which it may be said that the former has an appreciable
value, and should be utilized, whilst the latter admits of being
burned, after drying, on the kitchen fire. A notification to
this effect was left at every house in the parish in 1873, and
again in 1883. It might be repeated with advantage.
The work of dust collection has been systematised by
division of the parish into districts, and provision has been
made for inspection of dust-bins and oversight of the "dusting
gangs," the entire arrangements being under the supervision
of the Surveyor. A call is made at every house once
a week, and further improvement is scarcely possible until the
objectionable practice of refuse-harbourage shall have given
place to the more rational system of daily, or, at any rate,
frequent collection from moveable receptacles, to be provided
either by the Sanitary Authority or by the householder.
Desirous of dealing with this nuisance in an effective
way, your Vestry, in November, 1887, requested the (late)
Metropolitan Board of Works to include in any suitable Bill
thereafter promoted by them in Parliament, clauses to confer
power enabling Sanitary Authorities to abolish dust-bins,
and to enforce provision, in lieu thereof, of approved moveable
receptacles, in order that a more freqnent and
accelerated collection of the refuse might be made. Nothing
came of your Vestry's action, the Board having adopted the
view of their Special Purposes and Sanitary Committee, to
the effect that it was "not desirable to promote the
suggested legislation." The subject however is dealt with in
the Public Health Act to a certain extent, as, in section 141,
"the expression 'ash-pit'" is defined to mean "any ash-pit,