With many, however, the fact that the law had been put in force against them, and would, if necessary, again be put in force was sufficient.
“The number of statutory notices this year was not much more than half. Owners have carried out the necessary works for fear of being summoned.”
And numerous other reports were to the same effect. But a vigorous administration of the sanitary laws against owners was the very last thing which it was of use looking to the Vestries or District Boards for.
Some of the Vestries and District Boards put pressure upon their Medical Officers of Health to prevent energy upon their part.
Thus the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras in 1875 tendered his resignation, giving the following reasons:—
“That while I am held responsible for the sanitary condition of the parish, I am denied that assistance in outdoor inspection of houses either visited with contagious diseases or habitually in an unsatisfactory condition, which I believe to be necessary. I feel that the severe condemnation which a house-to-house visitation of the poorer parts of the parish has received from a majority of the sanitary committee must of necessity hopelessly weaken my authority with the sanitary inspectors, and render nugatory my efforts to carry out the Sanitary Acts….”
Parliament was passing some useful legislation for the improvement of the public health, and taking some action against some of the more heinous existing abuses.
Several of the evils already described connected with the building of houses were dealt with in an Act[145] passed in 1878. It was at last declared to be—“expedient to make provisions with respect to the making, filling up, and preparation of the foundation of sites of houses and buildings to be erected within the metropolis, and with respect to the quality of the substances to be used in the formation or construction of the sites, foundations and walls of such houses with a view to the stability of the same, the prevention of fires, and for purposes of health.”
The Metropolitan Board of Works was empowered to make bye-laws respecting the foundations and sites of houses to be constructed, and with respect to the material used in the construction of such houses and of the walls and buildings; and the Board issued a set of comprehensive regulations upon the subject.