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41
Unoccupied cellars and the roofs of outhouses are often
allowed to become store-houses for refuse and all kinds of dirty
and unsightly accumulations, but the Council have no power to
require the cleansing of the same.
Another point is this, that while under Section 25 of the
Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, the Council have
power to call upon an owner to pave a yard in connection with
a single dwelling-house, they have not the power to require
paving and draining of yards or passages common to two or more
dwelling-houses. The insanitary conditions arising from want of
paving in many of these common yards and passages, urgently
demand that the Council should have this power.
In the case of one house reported to be in an insanitary state,
it was impossible to get such information as to ownership or
occupancy as to enable the Council to take legal proceedings.
Legal powers necessary. The following clauses are suggested
for insertion in the Council's Bill of 1912, to enable the Council to
take action in such of the above cases as they deem advisable:—
Provision of accommodation for washing and the preparation and
storage of food.
1. If it shall appear to the Council on the report of the
Surveyor, Medical Officer or Inspector of Nuisances, that any
dwelling-house within the district, whether built before or after
the date of the passing of this act, is without sufficient and
suitable accommodation for the washing of clothes and the
cooking, preparation and storage of food, including a properly
lighted and ventilated food cupboard suitably constructed and
placed, the Council may give notice in writing to the owner
requiring him, in the manner and within the time to be specified
in such notice, not being less than 28 days, to provide any
such accommodation. If the owner makes default in complying
with such requirement to the satisfaction of the Council within
the time specified in such notice, he shall be liable to a penalty
not exceeding five pounds and to a daily penalty not exceeding
forty shillings.