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19
The great error, so far as I perceive, in framing the
regulations has been, that no district has fixed a minimum
penalty, while all have adopted the maximum
penalty mentioned in the Act. As a copy of the regulations
will he appended to my report, I need not refer
to them at greater length, except to say, that they provide
for proper water-supply and proper water-supply
apparatus, which we cannot obtain under the Nuisances
Removal Act. I may also mention that several houses
above £20 a year, have been brought under the regulations.
The 37th section, which allows the Vestries or Boards
to provide Hospitals for the sick, has not been carried
out in Hackney, as the Guardians have provided a small
hospital for infectious diseases, and Mr. Gathorne
Hardy's Act will give the Poor-Law Board all necessary
authority for carrying out the objects of this section.
The next section which I shall mention, is the 48th
which empowers any Local Board to appoint any officer
or member to institute and carry on any proceeding
which the Nuisance authority is authorised to institute
and carry on under the Nuisances Removal Acts and
the Sanitary Act. This is a very important power as
it enables the officer appointed, to conduct cases in the
absence of the clerk. 1 have been authorised to do so
for this Board, but I cannot act as advocate and witness
in the same case, which renders the appointment less
valuable than it otherwise would be.