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102
The Act is principally a measure to codify the present
law, but contains some amendments of considerable importance.
The powers of the Vestry are extended by the Act
to factories, workshops, and workplaces which are not
subject to the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act,
1878, relating to cleanliness, ventilation, and overcrowding.
(Secs. 2, 25, and 27.) These appear to be (1) domestic
workshops, i.e., where no mechanical power is used and the
only persons employed are members of the family dwellingthere,
and (2) workshops where neither children (under 14
years of age) nor young persons (between 14 and 18 years
of age) are employed.
Nuisances specified in the Act may be dealt with
summarily, i.e., a penalty may be inflicted after the service
of notice of the Local Authority when the nuisance arises
from the wilful act or default of the person served with
notice, or when such notice is not obeyed. (Secs. 2 and 4.)
The law under the old Acts required the order of a magistrate
before penalties accrued. Much loss of time is thus
avoided by the new law. Abatement, prohibition, and
closing orders may be made as hitherto, but in addition to
the penalty already referred to. (Secs. 4 and 5.)
It is the duty of every officer of the Local Authority,
not of the sanitary officers alone, and, subject to the regulations
of the Guardians, of every relieving officer, to give
information of nuisances to the Local Authority. Any
person may also give information of nuisances. (Sec. 3.)
In order to save trouble, the Vestry have furnished the
Guardians with printed forms on which the relieving
officers may notify nuisances.