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7
Bill having been delivered only a few days previously. The
Vestry inter alia pointed out that in their opinion, the penal
pauses of he Bill directed against local authorities were highly
objectionable as also were those subordinating the local bodies
to central authorities: to wit, the Local Government Board
and the London County Council; and, the Board concnrrina
Petition was drawn up and presented to the House of
Commons in opposition to the clauses referred to, most of the
other District Boards and Vestries adopting a similar course
of action. Owing to the strong opposition on the part of the
local authorities and the representations made by the representative
of metropolitan constituences, Mr. Ritchie was,
prior to the third reading, induced to modify very considerably
the penal and other clauses to which the local authorities
objected; and, in its amended form, the Bill has become law,
it having received the Royal Assent on the 5th August, 1891. '
The Bill mow Act) is one of great importance and extends
very considerably, not only the powers of local, therein
termed " Sanitary," authorities in regard to sanitary matters,
but their duties and responsibilities likewise; subjecting
them to penalties in the event of their not keeping the
streets (including the footways) properly swept and cleansed,
or, in the event of house-refuse not being removed at
the ordinary period appointed for so doing; and it provides
(Sect. 100 that "the County Council, on it being proved to
their satisfaction that any Sanitary Authority have made
default in doing their duty under this Act with respect to the
removal of any nuisance, the institution of any proceedings, or
the enforcement of any bye-law, may institute any proceedings
and do any act which the Authority might have instituted or
done for that purpose, and shall be entitled to recover from
the Sanitary Authority in default all such expenses in and
about the said proceeding or act as the County Couucil incur,
and are not recovered from any other person, and have not
been incurred in any unsuccessful proceeding."
The whole of the sanitary laws relating to the metropolis,
up to the date of tin passing of the measure now under review,
are consolidated and amended; the Nuisances Removal Acts,
the Diseases Prevention Acts, the Sanitary Acts (except one
clause of the Act Of 1866), the Slaughterhouse Acts, the Smoke
Nuisance Acts, and other, being wholly repealed, as well as
the sanitary clauses of the Metropolis Management
Acts, Ac. Altogether 35 Acts are wholly or partially repealed,
and the provisions thereof for the most part re-enacted, with
modifications and extensions.
The following clauses may be cited as being new and of exceptional
interest and importance, not only to sanitary
authorities but to the public at large: