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86
Eight instances of overcrowding were met with—in five cases persons of
both sexes exceeding the maximum ages fixed by the Acts were found in
occupation of cabins not registered for their occupation.
These cases have all been dealt with without recourse to police court pro
ceedings, and with satisfactory results, but in order to enforce compliance with
the Acts, several cases were referred by your Worshipful Committee to the
City Solicitor for any action he might deem desirable. In each instance a
letter from him succeeded in bringing to the notice of the owner the necessity
of at once taking steps to remove the cause for complaint.
The "Trent," registered at Wolverhampton, No. 894, was inspected on the
26th February, 1906. The after cabin is registered for three adults or two
adults and two children, and the fore cabin is registered for one adult or two
children under twelve years of age.
The boat was occupied by the master, his wife, her sister and three children,
being one child in excess of the number for which the boat is registered.
The Canal Boats Regulations III. (8b) provide that—
"A cabin occupied as a sleeping place by a husband and his wife shall
"not at any time while in such occupation be occupied as a sleeping
"place by any other person of the female sex above the age of twelve
"years, or by any other person of the male sex above the age of four"
teen years."
In the case of the above boat, the sister of the master's wife, age 17 years,
was stated to occupy the fore cabin.
This cabin was very damp and contained no evidence of occupation, and
from appearances all the persons on board occupied the after cabin.
The " Sandon," registered at Wolverhampton, No. 872, was inspected on
the 23rd March, 1906.
The after cabin is registered for three adults, or a man, his wife and three
children, and the fore cabin is registered for two adults or three children.
The boat was occupied by the master, his wife, and five children, and it
was stated that they all occupied the after cabin. There was no evidence of
occupation in the fore cabin.
Both the boats belonged to the same owners, There being no legal power
of entry between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., there was, of course, no
opportunity of obtaining the evidence necessary to obtain a conviction.