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18
With the year 1891 terminate some Acts of Parliament with
which Local Boards and their Officers have
Publ ic Health been for many years familiar. Such Acts as
(London) "The Nuisances Removal Act, 1855" and its
Act, 1891. Amendment Acts ; the various Sanitary Acts;
the Diseases Prevention Act (Metropolis). &c.;
have done good service in the past, and as they are all incorporated
and amended in the new Act which becomes operative on the
1st day of January, 1892, a distinct gain will be generally felt by
those who have to rely upon legal measures to obtain sanitary
improvements.
It will of course be obvious that some difficulties may present
themselves at first on account of the altered law, and I have
thought therefore that it would be of service to briefly draw attention
to the chief changes that have taken place.
In Sec. 2, there has been added "or dangerous to health" to
the former words " a nuisance, or injurious," and some additions
have been made to the list of nuisances. It is also provided that
overcrowding renders a house unfit " whether the inmates are, or
are not, members of the same family."
The absence of certain water fittings are deemed to cause a
nuisance, and this sedtion concludes by giving discretionary powers
to a magistrate as regards overcrowding under certain circumstances.
Sec. 3 renders it competent "for any person" to give notice
to the Sanitary Authority of the existence of a nuisance. Every
officer of a Sanitary Authority, as well as "every Relieving
Officer," must also give information in accordance with regulations
which each body is called upon to make; such Authority will
also give directions that the existence of a nuisance shall be
immediately brought to the notice of any person who may be
required to abate it, and the officer shall do so by serving a
written information.
Sec 4 provides that in serving notice upon a person requiring
the abatement of a nuisance, the Sanitary Authority may or not,
at its discretion, specify the works to be executed. The offender
may also be required to prevent the recurrence of the nuisance
complained of, even though it may for the time have been abated.
Where overcrowding exists, increased power is given by the
addition of the words " or part of a house.".