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205
with the soakings from the waterclosets, and generally to give the place an
appearance of being in good sanitary condition. In view of these works, the
magistrate, when the case was eventually heard, only ordered the closure of the
ground floor rooms and such on the first floor as were wet, although it was pointed
out that the site and arrangement of the building were such that the insanitary
conditions were certain to recur.*
When the plans of these buildings were submitted to the Vestry in the end
of 1890 in order to show the drainage connections, representations were made to
both the landlord and architect by your late Medical Officer, your Surveyor, and
Chief Sanitary Inspector, and to the County Council by the District Surveyor, in
the hope that steps might be taken to prevent the erection of dwelling-houses in
the manner proposed, but unfortunately no law exists to prevent buildings like
this being constructed so long as the builder complies with the feeble requirements
of the Building Act. Within eight months of their occupation their condition
necessitated the action reported above being taken.
Clinger Street.—The occupier of premises at No. 1, Clinger Street was
summoned for failing to provide a proper receptacle for dung, to repave his stables
and yard, and the magistrate (Mr. Bushby) made an order directing the works to
be executed within fourteen days. He had been before the General Purposes
Committee and been granted time in which to do the work, but he neglected to
avail himself of the opportunities.
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACTS.
The Home Secretary, under the powers given him by the Factory and Workshops
Act, 1891, has made the accompanying Order.
The Local Government Board have issued a circular to Sanitary Authorities
instructing them to at once take measures to make known the requirements of the
Order, and to direct their officers from time to time to examine the lists, so that
they may become aware of the places in which such out-workers are carrying on
their employment, and thus be enabled to take prompt measures to suppress any
insanitary conditions which may be found to exist therein.
The General Purposes and Health Committee have fully discussed this Order,
and have laid a statement before the County Council and the Local Government
Board, suggesting that the officers of the County Council engaged in carrying out
the Shop Hours Act might collect the lists of outworkers and distribute them to
the several parishes in which the out-workers are resident, as it would be a matter
of extreme difficulty for Local Authorities to do this in a thorough manner. This
however they do not seem willing to acquiesce in.
* At the time this Report is going through the press, these buildings are reported to be as bad
as ever they were.