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78
The van and tent.dwellers on this land informed me that they
each paid a weekly rent to the owner, and I am of opinion that
it is necessary that the Local Authority should have power to
proceed against an owner of land who allows it to be occupied
by tents and vans which contravene the Council's bye.laws with
respect to these structures.
It is not a practical proposition that the Council should have
power to summons only the tent or van.dwellers, who are here
one day and gone the next, and have no authority to deal with
the owner of land who allows it to be occupied by dwellers in
tents, vans, sheds, or similar structures, without exercising any
supervision over, or making any provision for them. In the case
of the field referred to above and occupied by 13 tents and vans
and a population of at least 32 persons (including children) at
the end of the year, 1910, the only water available for domestic
purposes, was that running in a ditch at the foot of the field and
derived from land drainage.
Legal Powers Necessary. The following is the text of a suggested
clause for insertion in the Council's Bill to be promoted
in 1912:—
With respect to Tents, Vans, Shells and Similar Structures.
The owner or occupier of any land, after receiving due
notice of the bye.laws of the Council relating to tents, vans,
sheds and similar structures, and notwithstanding anything
contained in the said bye.laws or other Act in force in the
district, shall be responsible for such contraventions of the
said bye.laws as exist in connection with any tent, van, shed
or similar structure lodged upon his land.
REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FACTORY
AND WORKSHOP ACT, 1901, IN CONNECTION WITH
FACTORIES, WORKSHOPS AND WORKPLACES.
The above Act places upon the Local Authority the following
duties relating to:—