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The Act makes it the duty of the Medical Officer of Health of a district, on request
by the person who would be liable to pay the house duty on any house in the district, if
the duty were not discharged by the Commissioners, to examine the ho die for the
purpose of ascertaining whether a certificate can properly be given; and if the house is
constructed so as to afford suitable accommodation for each of the families or persons
inhabiting it, and due provision is made for their sanitary requirements, he is to certify
the same accordingly.
This is a very useful provision in the interests of the public health, and the Medical
Officer of Health of this Vestry has already certified numerous houses under its
provisions.
GOVERNMENT ENQUIRY INTO THE SANITARY CONDITION
OF THE PARISH.
In August, 1889, the Mansion House Council on the Dwellings of the Poor, supplied
the Vestry with lists of sanitary defects in 10G8 premises which its officers had
discovered in certain districts of the Parish which they had inspected. By the end of
December, 1889, the Sanitary Department had dealt with 609 of the premises
complained of, leaving only 159 to be remedied. This rate of progress did not, however,
satisfy the Mansion House Council, who obtained an Address of the House of Commons
requiring the Secretary of State to institute a public enquiry into the sanitary condition
of certain premises in this Parish. The Home Secretary accordingly appointed
Mr. D. C. Nichols and Dr. Edward Seaton to hold such Enquiry at the Town Hall.
The Commission began its sittings on 12th November, 1890, Mr. E. Lewis Thomas
appearing as Counsel for the Vestry, and Mr. Corrie Grant as Counsel for the Mansion
House Council, whilst Messrs. E. Moffatt and C. W. Brabher, the gentlemen
nominated by the Vestry to co-operate with the Commissioners in such Enquiry,
attended in such capacity.
Seven witnesses were examined and the arguments of Counsel heard, and the
Enquiry was completed on the 15th December.
The results of the Enquiry have been printed as a Government paper, as ordered
by the House of Commons, and this lias been distributed amongst Vestrymen. It will
be sufficient here to set forth the following extract from that Report, a more detailed
reference to which will be found in Inspector Alexander's Report.
The contention of the Mansion House Council, as stated by their Counsel, was:—
1. That the sanitary staff of the Vestry, though efficient en personnel, is
insufficient in number.
2. That the present Acts for dealing with sanitary and cognate matters in the
parish are inefficiently carried out.