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78
The barge ''Sunbeam," mentioned in the Table following, is a case of a
recurring nuisance, a Statutory Notice having been previously served upon
the owners of the vessel.
The barge was seen on the 1st October last, carrying a cargo of dustbin
refuse.
As in the previous case, the bulkhead separating the offensive cargo from
the cabin was ineffective. The cabin floor was in disrepair, and, on lifting it,
the bilges were found to be exceedingly foul, containing an accumulation of
offensive black liquid matter, while the woodwork was befouled with slime
and maggots.
From this it will be seen that the repulsive conditions found in the cabins
of these barges constitute a serious nuisance.
While this Report was in preparation, a Deputation of the Trade Union
Congress Parliamentary Committee waited upon the President of the Board of
Trade, and amongst other things considered was the question of insanitary
barges.
The President of the Board of Trade was asked to take action with a view
to ensuring the sanitary inspection of all barges navigating the Thames, in the
interests of health, and that pressure should be brought to bear on the
Watermen's Company when registering barges, to see that these vessels were
in a proper sanitary condition.
The President of the Board of Trade is reported to have said that something
was being done by the Board's Surveyors, but that their powers in this matter
were very slight. He hoped, however, when the Government took in hand
the question of the administration of the Port of London that he would be
able to deal more effectively with the grievances mentioned.
It is interesting to notice that lightermen themselves are moving in the
matter, as some indication that the conditions repeatedly exposed by your
Medical Officer in his Reports, and the action taken by the Port Sanitary
Authority in the matter, have been fully justified.