Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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matter. An amendment was moved by Mr. Brighty, seconded by Mr.
Javens—That the report be referred back to the Sanitary Committee
for further consideration, and that the Clerk enquire of the other
Vestries of the Metropolis as to their action in the matter, and, after
discussion, the motion was by leave withdrawn, and the Amendment
was put as the original motion, and duly carried.
The Sanitary Committee afterwards held four Meetings, and then
presented a Report with some further modifications, and recommending
as follows:—
Houses to which the Regulations shall apply.
The following Regulations shall be applied to houses wholly let in
unfurnished lodgings, with non-resident landlords, or where two-thirds
of the houses are let out in lodgings, and to all tenements under the
Small Tenements Act, otherwise the Poor Rate Assessment and
Collection Act, 1869.
Whereupon it was moved by Mr. Jennings, and seconded by Mr.
Foxcroft—
That such Clause be approved and adopted.
It was moved as an amendment by Mr. Lyons, seconded by Mr
Squire.
That the Regulations be applied only to houses entirely let out in
tenements.
"Which Amendment was put and lost, there appearing two for it,
and a large majority against it.
The original motion was then put and lost, there appearing 9 for
and 17 against it.
I think I am perfectly right in saying that the feeling which
prevailed in the Vestry was that the Regulations generally were of
such an inquisitorial and troublesome character that they were unsuited
to the government of an Englishman's home.
For instance, it was shown that in certain cases even clergymen
occupied lodgings which would be reached by these Regulations.
In the Parish of Clerkenwell there is a very large number of
respectable people who are compelled to take houses much beyond their
means as regards rent, because they cannot obtain such houses as would
be within their means, and are, therefore, compelled in aid of their
rent, to take in lodgers, and the Vestry felt that to put in force
regulations of the kind suggested would be an unnecessary invasion
of the privacy of the houses of this class of people by a public officer,
and, therefore, repugnant to the feelings of such people. Hence the
non-adoption of the regulations as recommended.
They further felt from the beginning that such suggestions as that