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"In reply, I am directed to state that since the report of the
Council's Medical Officer referred to was prepared, the circumstances
have been altered, the work of scavenging and dusting being no longer
done by contractors, but by a staff in the direct employ of the Board.
The Board's Inspectors have thus been relieved of the duty of superintending
this work, which formerly occupied a considerable amount
of their time, and the whole is now carried out in the Surveyor's
department under the direction of a foreman specially appointed for
the purpose. They have also been relieved of a large amount of clerical
work, and are now free to devote the whole of their time to the sanitary
work of the District.
"I have further to submit that the Board has in its employ at the
present time a larger number of Sanitary Inspectors in proportion to the
population, than the great majority of the District Boards and Vestries
in the Metropolis, and, in addition, a man is employed as Assistant
Inspector, and devotes the whole of his time to the work, so that,
practically, three Inspectors are constantly employed. (The proportion
in St. Saviour's is one Inspector to 13,588 persons; or, if the services
of the Assistant Inspector be taken into account, it is one to 9,059
persons, the population of the district at the last census being 27,177.
"The Committee are not aware of any circumstances in connection
with the St. Saviour's District which would necessitate the employment
of a larger number or proportion of Inspectors than are found to be
necessary in the other parts of the Metropolis, and they submit that
their existing staff is amply sufficient for the efficient and satisfactory
performance of the sanitary work of the District.
"Yours faithfully,
"W. H. ATKINS, Clerk.
"H. De La Hooke, Esq., Clerk,
London County Council."
IMPROVEMENT, ORANGE STREET.
An improvement has been carried out, as far as practicable,
at the entrance into Orange Street from the Southwark Bridge
Road, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners having given up for public
uses a strip of land situate on the north side of the street for
the purpose of widening the same. Arrangements are being
made with the Vicar of All Hallows for taking over the small
triangular piece adjoining and completing the improvement.
The strip of land has been paved temporarily with granite
pitching.
LIGHTING COMMON STAIRCASES.
In May last circular letters were received from several local
authorities relative to the introduction into clause 5 of the
London County Council's General Powers Bill, which provided
inter alia for the lighting of staircases in flats or tenement
buildings, when before the Select Committee of the House of
Commons, of a sub-section requiring local authorities to bear
one half the cost of such lighting, and, on the motion of Mr.
Grattan, a resolution was passed strongly protesting against the
ratepayers being burdened with the same or with any portion of