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43
lodgings. The Bye-laws of the Authority were confirmed by the Local
Government Board in 1895, and I understand that since that date an
attempt has been made to enforce them, and notices were served upon
the owners of 48 houses, but upon the return of these notices with
particulars as to occupation and rent of tenements, it was found that
owing to the low limit of exemption, namely, three shillings a week,
only 16 houses came within the scope of the Bye-laws, although other
houses in the same and other streets are substantially the same as
regards their occupation as those which have been registered. Inquiries
made of tenants as to rent during my inspection confirm this experience,
that the present limit of exemption renders the Bye-laws inoperative
in this district; thus, out of a total of 177 tenements, which appear to
be of the class for which these Bye-laws are intended, 145 were let at
three shillings or more per week, and would therefore escape registration.
There is little doubt that much benefit would be derived from the
periodical inspection and cleansing of the majority of houses let in
lodgings in the district, some needing both inspection and cleansing
more frequently than others. In view of the experience already gained
as to the practicability of using the Bye-laws, the Authority should
take steps to amend the exemption clauses.
It has been customary to have house-to-house inspections made by
the Inspectors of those parts of the district which are known to require
most attention, and, as the result of this, many of these premises were
found in respect to conditions other than those referred to above in a
satisfactory state. These inspections, together with inspection on
complaint, re-inspection after completion of works, and duties relating
to food, and the collection of samples, is sufficient to take up the time
of the present Staff; and it has not been possible to undertake a
systematic house-to-house inspection throughout the whole district,
with a view to obtaining a record of the conditions of, and the mode
of use of all premises in the district, although the Vestry have passed
a resolution that each Inspector shall devote two days in each week to
this purpose. The result is that many insanitary defects exist in
houses, and the sanitary authority has not yet a complete knowledge
as to all the workshops and workplaces in the parish and the requirements
of such premises, although a number have been visited and
particulars relating to them entered in the Vestry's register of factories
and workshops.
In order to carry out this house-to-house inspection, and to visit
periodically as often as may be considered necessary houses let in
lodgings when registered, it will be necessary to make an increase in
the number of Inspectors at present engaged by the Authority. The
increase necessary in the staff will depend to some extent upon the
number of houses which it is found should be registered, when the
Bye-laws are so amended as to make them practically useful in the
district. In arriving at this conclusion of need of increase in the
Sanitary Staff, the following facts, to which my attention was directed