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53
The Vestry have undoubtedly power to make this
provision, as will be seen from the following extract
from the 18th and 19th Victoria (1855) sec. 88:—"It
shall be lawful for every Vestry and District Board
to provide and maintain urinals, water closets, privies,
and like conveniences, in situations where they deem
such accommodation to be required, and to supply the
same with water, and to defray the expenses thereof;
and any damage occasioned to any person by the
erection thereof, and the expense of keeping the same
in good order, as expenses of sewerage, are to be
defrayed under this Act."
In Paris, and in other cities on the continent, water
closets arc provided for both sexes, and a charge of
three-halfpence is made to each person using them.
Most of these are, I imagine, private speculations, and
I have no doubt that they pay a reasonable profit.
Whether the Vestry would be empowered to make a
similar charge I am not prepared to say, but certainly
each latrine should be placed under the charge of a
responsible attendant, who should be required to
exercise considerable vigilance in the matter of cleanliness,
as otherwise contagious diseases would undoubtedly
be communicated.
I have on one or two occasions visited latrines on
the continent, where no charge was made and where
there was no attendant. In each case the condition of
the place was most disgusting.
The matter deserves further consideration, and I