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The following is a list of the Refrigerating Stores within the District of
the Port Sanitary Authority, with the capacity of each expressed in terms of
the number of carcasses of sheep:—
London and India Docks Company:— Capacity.
Victoria Dock 315,000 carcasses.
„ (Extension) 180,000 „
West India Dock 90,000 „
South West India Dock 13,000 ,,
London Central Markets:—
Poplar Riverside Store 200,000 „
On the 24th April last an Inquiry was opened at the Old Council
Chamber, Guildhall, by an Inspector of the Local Government Board, for the
purpose of receiving evidence on the question of the proposed extension of the
jurisdiction of the Corporation as the Port of London Sanitary Authority in
the matter of unsound food, by the inclusion of wharves forming part of, or
abutting on, the Port.
As is now well known, this Inquiry was the outcome of a movement on the
part of the Dock Companies in order to ensure, as they alleged, uniformity of
inspection of unsound food in the Port of London.
It was alleged by the Dock Company that the inspection of food in the
docks was, very properly, minute and strict, but, that at the riverside wharves
within the districts of the various Metropolitan District Councils, articles of
food were not subjected to so close an inspection, and that as a result they had
suffered loss of trade by the removal of some of their business from the
docks to riverside wharves.
A list of the wharves abutting on the River within the jurisdiction of the
Authority at which food stuffs can be landed is appended. (Appendix E.)
It was pointed out to the Inspector, on behalf of the Corporation, that there
was no desire on their part to extend their present jurisdiction, but that if
this were done, it would, of course, be undertaken and carried out in an
efficient manner.
The Inquiry was attended by representatives of all the Metropolitan District
Councils possessed of foreshore in the Port of London, most of whom gave
evidence.
The result of the Inquiry was, that it was not shown to be desirable at the
present time to make any alteration in the existing limits of jurisdiction.
The provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, relating to
unsound food, have been found inadequate in many respects by your Officers.
When this Act was drafted, it was not contemplated that seizures would be
made on a large and wholesale scale.
1 note the Public Health Acts are likely to be amended, and I recommend
that the Committee should bring to the notice of the Local Government Board
these defects, with a view to the Public Health Act being amended as may be
considered necessary.