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37
The bakehouflos which were inspected were clean, and their condition was in
accordance with the requirements of the Factories and Workshops Act.
There are but very few common lodging-houses in the parish, and those inspected
were found to comply with the police regulations.
The whole of the parish is supplied with water on constant service from the
mains of the East London "Waterworks Company.
As a rule every house has its own supply; a tap in the yard, however, serves for
poorer houses. Water is drawn direct from supply pipes without the intervention
of cisterns. Speaking generally the supply has been sufficient, but during recent
drought the water company has found it necessary to turn off the water in the
mains during certain hours in the twenty-four. There was much evidence at tho
time of inspection of waste of water from faulty fittings, and from carelessness.
For tho sanitary administration of the parish, the Vestry have appointed a
medical officer of health, who is not required to devote his whole time to his duties ;
a clerk, two inspectors of nuisances, both of whom have in addition to their sanitary
duties to collect samples under the Food and Drugs Act, and three subordinate
officers, one of whom is employed in connection with the disinfecting apparatus,
and two for disinfection of houses, and in addition a man for flushing urinals, and
four men for the superintendence of dust collection.
The inspectors report to, and receive instructions direct from, the sanitary committee;
they are not guided or supervised in thoir duties by the medical officer of health.
Complaints as to nuisances are entered in the complaint book, and the owners or
occupiers are served with tho statutory notices. If these requirements are not
complied with, the attention of tho authority is directed to the case, and, if necessary,
other legal proceedings result; the Vestry meets once a fortnight, and the sanitary
committee once a week for this purpose.
The sanitary committee are in the habit of visiting various localities of the parish,
but systematic inspection of the houses by the officers except on complaint has not
been carried out in the district. One of the two inspectors (appointed in 1884) has
evidently not limited his action to houses to which his attention had been directed
by complaints, but tho othor stated that his time had been too fully occupied to go
beyond those brought to his notice.
In effecting improvements of houses faulty in one or another particular,
proceedings have been limited to the exorcise of powers conferred by the Nuisance
Removal Acts.
The method of procedure under these Acts is undoubtedly tedious, when house
owners are unwilling to comply with the requirements of the Vestry. The delay
consequent on the necessity for serving notices, obtaining a justice's order, etc.,
contrasts in a marked degree with the more summary method of obtaining a penalty
for non-compliance with an order of the Vestry made under the Metropolis Local
Management Act. In regard to water supply to waterclosets now being effected in
Bethnal Green, proceedings can be taken under both these Acts, but the latter has
not been utilised for this purpose by the Vestry.
The opportunity that is afforded by the 35th section of the Sanitary Act for
controlling, under regulations, houses let in lodgings, has not been taken advantage
of by the Vestry. Regulations for houses of this class can be made for enforcing
among other subjects the provision of privy accommodation and other appliances,
and means of cleanliness in proportion to the number of lodgings and occupiers as