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required for the use of the ship until it reaches its home port. The certificate
given by the Medical Officer of Health of the Port shall be marked by the supplier
with the date of the supply and shall be retained by him and kept available for
inspection."
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1936. PART X - CANAL BOATS

The Owners and/or Masters of the defective craft were in each case notified and requested to
carry out the necessary repairs.
In six instances the Certificate of Registration was not on board and in one instance the
details of the accommodation were not correctly recorded on the Certificate of Registration. The
owners were informed of the requirements of the Act in this respect.
In March, 1955, a letter was sent to The Docks and Inland Waterways Executive suggesting
that consideration be given to the provision, where practicable, of Elsan closets on canal boats.
The Executive at once accepted this proposal and stated they would extend this facility to any
of their boating personnel who wished to take advantage of it.
No new registrations were effected during the year.
HOUSEBOATS AT BENFLEET
The Essex County Council Act, 1952, provides that the mooring of any houseboat within the
County shall not be lawful without the consent of the Council of the district in which the houseboat
is situated and that the Council may require the owner or occupier to remove or demolish
any houseboat not authorised by them.
Your Worshipful Committee are, however, still responsible for the sanitary supervision under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, of houseboats coming within the jurisdiction of the Port
Health Authority, although under the Essex County Council Act, the local Councils are now
responsible for the licensing and drawing up of conditions under which they are pre pared to
grant licences to houseboats.
The duties of your Committee in regard to the sanitary supervision of houseboats are safeguarded
by Section 212 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952, which provides inter alia that no
consent shall be given by the controlling authority to the mooring or placing of any houseboat
within the Port of London without the previous written consent of the Corporation of London as
the Port Health Authority of the said Port of London.
In March, 1954, the Clerk of the Benfleet Urban District Council wrote to the Town Clerk to
say that his Council had agreed that, subject to the approval of the Port Health Authority,
consents shall be issued in respect of forty specified craft for a period of twelve months without
any conditions; and that the owners be informed that the boats must be removed at the expiration
of that period unless a previous application has been made by them to the Council andrenewal
granted. Your Medical Officer raised no objection to this proposal to grant 'temporary' consents
and your Worshipful Committee approved the proposal of the Benfleet Urban District Council.
In July, 1955, the following letter was received by the Town Clerk from the Clerk to the
Benfleet Urban District Council:—
" Dear Sir,
HOUSEBOATS - BENFLEET CREEKS - TEMPORARY CONSENTS
The temporary consents issued in 1954 expired on the 31st May last, and the
Council have agreed that, subject to the approval of your Authority, consents
should be renewed in respect of the houseboats for the period ending 31st May,
1956, without any conditions: the owners to be informed that the boats must be
removed at the expiration of that period unless a previous application has been
made and renewal granted :—
WEST CREEK: Bill Busty, Balranald, Smugglers, Patsy Ann, Sans Souci,
Misene, Lydia, Amy, Jewel, Michael David, Hi-di-Hi, Lowestoft,
Haven, Wanderlust, Sunrise, Iris, Blake, Havic, Emma Jane and
Yacht Club Boat.
EAST CREEK:Manana, Whykaway, Madeline, Buchra, Frogmore, Bligh, Intruder,
Lets Pretend, MTB. 492, Dolphin, Invader,Betta Glen,Bendigo ,
Mendip, Jenny Le e and Margot.
I shall be glad to receive your Authority's consent to issue the 36 temporary licences.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) D. GRUDGINGS,
Clerk to the Council."
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