View report page

47
practical result in improving the conditions under which the crews on barges
carrying offensive cargoes have to live.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, seems to me to provide a remedy
for this difficulty. Section 5 (b) states that if the nuisance, although abated
since the service of the Notice, is, in the opinion of the Sanitary Authority,
likely to recur on the same premises, the Sanitary Authority shall make a
complaint, and the Petty Sessional Court hearing the complaint may make on
such person a summary order. It will, I think, be admitted that barges
carrying offensive cargoes in which the crew's quarters are not absolutely cut
off from the hold so as to effectually prevent the discharge of filthy liquids or
effluvium or gases, the nuisance is not only likely, but certain to recur
whenever such offensive cargoes are carried. I therefore recommend that the
opinion of Mr. Solicitor be taken on this point, and that, if he approves,
legal proceedings should be taken in future against the owners of the barges
carrying offensive cargoes in those cases where they do not carry out the
necessary works to prevent a recurrence of the nuisance within a reasonable
time.
There is a similar class of vessel engaged in the carrying of dangerous and
explosive cargoes from the Port of London, which, I think, might fairly be
brought within the scope of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
I quote extracts from the Reports of H.M. Inspector of Explosives. In his
report of an explosion on a ketch which sailed from the Thames for the port
of Kingston-on-Hull, and in which latter port the explosion occurred, resulting
m the loss of the ketch and considerable damage to surrounding property,
from which it will be seen that the hold was not effectually cut off from the
crew's quarters:—
"From the commencement of the voyage the leakage from the barrels
"appears to have been considerable, and petroleum vapour was passing in
"considerable quantities into all parts of the vessel, so much was this the
"case that the crew were unable at any time to sleep below decks, and
"were obliged to make use of the boat for the purpose. It is also a
significant fact that the ship's cat was found suffocated in the forecastle
"on the second day of the voyage."
In another case in which the explosion at sea resulted in loss of life, the
same Inspector reports: "That the vapour had penetrated into the forecastle to
"such an extent as to prevent its use."
The two deaths which occurred in the West India and Millwall Docks were
brought to the notice of your Worshipful Committee in my monthly Reports,
and on the recommendation of your Medical Officer the facts were reported to
the Board of Trade, and they were asked to co-operate with this Authority in
dealing with this question.