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8
refused to give his certificate under the Customs and Inland
Revenue Act of 1890, until the defect was satisfactorily
remedied. A correspondence ensued between the Committee
and the Trustees, in which an alternative proposal was
submitted by the Trustees to the structural alterations
required by the Vestry; but no arrangement had been
arrived at Lady-day.
Public Health
Act.
The passing in August of the Public Health
(London) Act—" London's Code of Health "—
has been the most important feature of the year in so far
as this Committee's duties are affected. In the succeeding
month a comprehensive and suggestive report was made to
the Vestry by the medical officer of health, in which Dr.
Holt pointed out clearly and pertinently that a much higher
standard of efficiency in sanitary matters would be expected
under the new Act than that which had obtained hitherto;
and that the sanitary department of the Vestry would
require thorough re-organisation in order to render it equal
to the new or more onerous duties devolving upon it,
especially in regard to lodging-houses, underground rooms
disinfection, smoke abatement, workshops, bye-laws for
prevention of various nuisances, mortuary, etc. The report
was referred to the Committee, who, after giving it a careful
consideration, presented certain recommendations for the
increase of the sanitary staff; but the Vestry saw fit to
adjourn the adoption of the report until after the Act had
come into operation on the 1st January of 1892. The
status of inspectors Dee and Lightfoot was revised, their
salaries being increased to £150 per annum with £10
annual increments to a maximum of £200; and an additional
inspector—Mr. A. McNair—was appointed, principally for
the supervision of houses let in lodgings, at a salary of
£130, rising by £10 annual increments to £150. A clerk
was also appointed for the purely clerical work of the