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10
I am directed by the Board to inform you that your premises in have
been licensed as a cow-house by the magistrates upon evidence which was submitted
to them, as a place fit for the reception of cows and no more; and I have been
directed by the Board to give you notice that if a larger number of cows than that
numbered are kept by you at any one time, any future application on your part for a
license for those premises will be opposed by the Board
To Mr (Signed) ALFRED TURNER, Clerk
Upon the receipt of the above notice, the cow-keepers had no excuse
for not knowing the number of cows that their premises were licensed to
contain; yet, upon inspection it was found that eight of the cow-keepers had
disregarded the terms of their license, as regarded the number of cows they
were allowed to keep Upon my Report to the Board, the Clerk was instructed
to mention the fact to the magistrates on the next licensing day,
which was to be held on the 14th October, 1867, but on that occasion the
bench ruled that they had no power to limit the number of cows in any shed
licensed by them, as being fit for the purpose of keeping cows It was said
that the place was licensed and not the proprietor The wholesome rule,
therefore, that was adopted last year limiting the number of cows, was not
carried out on the recent occasion This is much to be lamented, for the
probability of the license being withheld, in case of the proprietor not
observing proper sanitary regulations, both as regards the number of cows
in reference to the size of the premises, and the general mode of conducting
the business, would induce each proprietor to attend to the directions of the
Sanitary Officers, and thus prevent the necessity of their adopting legal
proceedings, under the Nuisances' Removal Act The local authority in St
Pancras, has been well supported by the licensing magistrates for that district,
for they have adopted the recommendation of that Board by licensing
only those places as cow-houses, in which the owners promised not to keep
more cows than will allow of each animal having 1000 cubic feet Moreover,
the number for which he is licensed is marked on the license It is for the
health of the neighbourhood as well as for the health of the cows that this
rule has been laid down
If the correct reading of the Act be that the magistrates have no power
to limit the number of cows in any premises sought to be licensed, then the
sooner the Act is amended the better it will be for the health of the district
On visiting some of these overcrowded cow-houses, I have found them to be
very great nuisances, not only to the immediate neighbourhood, but to a considerable
distance from the premises It will, therefore, now be necessary in
case of nuisance from any cow-house where the number of cows is excessive,
and where the business is otherwise improperly conducted, to take proceedings
under the 8th Section of the Nuisances' Removal Act, and again to urge upon
the magistrates at the next licensing day, the propriety of their not granting
a renewal of the licence; for it is obvious that if a cow house, which may
be suitable for holding six cows only, is occupied by twelve, the place is at