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54
law for their removal. Such were the prohibition of the
Gipsy Encampment in Wardley Street, the closing of
dilapidated houses in Field's Alley, and the suppression of
the pig nuisances in Bendon Valley; these latter consisted
of 6 piggeries, containing in the aggregate 331 pigs, with
plant for hundreds more; one piggery alone containing
120 pigs —the whole said to have belonged to one proprietor.
In consequence of the numerous and increasing
attempts which have been made of late to create extensive
piggeries in this parish, I venture to again draw attention
to the subject. It must be patent that an extensive
piggery like those referred to cannot be kept, even under
the most favourable circumstances, without creating conditions
prejudicial to health; for assuming that their
ordure is removed daily, and that their styes are repeatedly
cleansed, the very processes of such removal and of such
cleansing become in themselves an insufferable nuisance.
By the Act of 57 George III., cap- 29, sec. 68, the keeping
of swine within 40 yards of any street or public place
was wisely prohibited. There is nothing in any subsequent
Act which annuls, or is even inconsistent with
this wise provision, but on the contrary, Section 91 of
the Metropolis Local Management Act confirms it, and
Section 55 of the Sanitary Act of 1866, respects its operation
as follows :—" All powers given by this Act shall be
deemed to be in addition to and not in derogation of any
other powers conferred on any Local authority by Act of
Parliament, law, or custom, and such authority may
exercise such other powers in the same manner as if this
Act had not passed." If Section 91 of the Metropolis
Local Management Act, and Section 68 of 57 George
III., which are both in present force, be read together,
the obvious conclusion is that the law does not allow the
keeping of swine within 40 yards of any public place, and
not beyond that distance if it be proved to the satisfaction
of a Justice that a nuisance or injury to health is created
thereby. If such be not the law, then it will be well for
this and other populous localities if a law of like import
be enacted. Altogether, the Sanitary aspect of pig-