HH62/1/FIFE/13

Transcription

[page] 12

RIVERS POLLUTION PREVENTION ACT, 1876.

The objects of this Act are to prevent such pollution of streams as
must injuriously affect the health of the districts in which they are
situated, and to prevent their becoming obstructed by solid matter being
deposited into them.
By "streams" under this Act, are meant rivers, streams, canals,
lakes, and watercourses emptying directly into the sea, or into tidal
waters.
It would be out of place to describe in detail the various offences
prohibited by this Act, and the present purpose will be served by stating
that the enforcement of the Act will prohibit the discharge of solid
refuse into streams, except such solid refuse from mines as may find its
way by gravitation.
Sewage matters may not be discharged into any stream, unless the
best known practicable and available means have been used to render
harmless the sewage matters so falling or carried into the stream.
Prior to the passing of the Local Government Act, the administra-
tion of the Act fell upon the Sanitary Authority of ay parish or burgh;
but now, in addition to these, County Councils have power to administer
the Act.
In the meantime, in Fifeshire, no attempt has been made to secure
the purification of the various streams which run through the county,
such as the Orr, the Eden, and the Leven.
The subject is one of such immense difficulty, and involves such
serious considerations, that there is little wonder why it has not yet been
approached, except indirectly. This occurred after a communication to
me from the Police Commissioners of Markinch, in reference to a pro-
posal to discharge the sewage from the burgh into the Leven, when I
considered it my duty to state that, so far as I was concerned, I should
certainly advise the County Council not to sanction this method of
sewage disposal. If the sewage were first treated by irrigation, then no
fault could be found, as by this treatment "the best known practicable
and availabe means' had been adopted.
In connection with remarks on sewage purification, fuller reference
will be made to the manner in which streams in Fife are polluted by
sewage, and what remedies may be adopted for the prevention of this.
The Orr, from its commencement at Lochfitty to its junction with
the Leven at Cameron Bridge, receives the sewage of all the villages
near to or on its banks; and the Leven, in addition to the sewage of
Leslie, receives the pollutions from the various paper works and
manufactories between Leslie and Cameron Bridge. After the two
streams combine they receive the waste materials from Cameron Bridge
Distillery, and the sewage from a large piggery in connection with the
distillery, so that, when the Leven reaches the sea, it is in a very foul
state indeed, and its smell in warm weather is complained of by the
inhabitants of the town of Leven.
This subject I propose to enter more fully into during the summer
of 1892.

[page] 13

HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES ACT, 1890.

This Act consolidates and amends a group of Acts relating to
Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings and the Housing of Working
Classes.
I would desire to call the attention of the District Committees to
the terms of Part II. of the above Act, which deals specially with Un-
healthy Dwelling Houses:-
In section 30 is found -" it shall be the duty of the Medical Officer of Health
of every district to represent to the Local Authority of the district any dwel-
ling-house which appears to him to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to
health as to be unfit for human habitation."
Section 31 - " If in any district any four or more householders, in or near to
any street, complain in writing to the Medical Officer of Health of that district,
that any dwelling-house, in or near that street, is in a condition so dangerous or
injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, he shall forthwith inspect
the same, and transmit to the Local Authority the said complaint, together with
his opinion thereon."
Section 32 (1) " It shall be the duty of every Local Authority to cause to be
made, from time to time, inspection of their district, with a view to ascertain
whether any dwelling-house therein is in a state so dangerous or injurious to
health as to be unfit for human habitation; and if, on the representation of the
Medical Officer, or any officer of such Authority, or information given, any
dwelling-house appears to them to be in such a state, to forthwith take proceed
ings against the owner or occupier for CLOSING THE DWELLING-HOUSE under the
enactments set out in Third Schedule to this Act."
The enactments referred to in Schedule III. are as follows:-
SCOTLAND.
PUBLIC HEALTH (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1867 ( Sections 16, 18, 19.)
Section 16 - " The word 'nuisance' under this Act shall include (A) Any
insufficiency of size, defect of structure, defect of ventilation, want of repair or
proper drainage, or suitable water-closet or privy accommodation or cesspool, and
any other matter or circumstance rendering any inhabited house, building,
premises or part thereof, injurious to the health of the inmates or unfit for
human habitation or use." Sections 18 and 19 describe the proceedings to be
adopted by the Local Authority, and the form of decision the Sheriff, Magistrate,
or Justice may give.
I have quoted very fully from the Act of 1890, because it is one
of the utmost importance, and will year by year attract more attention.
It will be seen that the Act leaves no option for the Local Authority,
but they are required to exercise the powers they are provided with to
secure that all dwelling-houses are in a sanitary condition. The
Medical Officer is bound to report to the Local Authority any house in
the district in an insanitary condition. The main defects of houses,
which cause them to be insanitary, are given in Section 16 (A) of the
Public Health Act for Scotland, already quoted, but the expression "any
other matter or circumstance" is a very comprehensive one, and would
certainly include dampness of walls or floors, want of rhones and rain-
water conductors, general structural defects, want of drainage, and
most certainly want of a proper water supply. When houses are found
wanting any or all of these conditions, or with any defects so as to
render them insanitary, the Medical Officer must report them to the
Local Authority, who must deal with them as provided for in Section
32 of the Act already quoted, by applying for a closing order.
I can report nothing done under this Act; but after the general