§ MR. W. H. JAMES (Gateshead)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, as stated in the Report of Mr. Fletcher, the Inspector under the Alkali Acts, before the Select Committee on the Ventilation of the House, there exists, a few yards south of the Houses of Parliament, at Cookson's Wharf, Millbank, a refuse heap, upon which castaway bedding, rags, bones, hair, animal and vegetable re-fuse out of Westminster is burnt periodically at night, as occasion requires; and, whether, if correct, he proposes to do anything to mitigate this nuisance?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)Mr. Fletcher, in his Report, expressed the opinion that the unpleasant smell, re- 831 sembling that of burning animal matter, experienced on the west side of the Houses of Parliament, early in the morning of July 9, 1884, arose from the burning of some refuse material at Cookson's Wharf, Millbank. I am informed by Mr. Fletcher that subsequent inquiry has shown that this burning of refuse was an isolated act, in violation of orders, which has not been repeated.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal. E.)asked, whether the establishment referred to, not being carried on for the purpose of manufacture, was not exempt from the operation of the Factory Acts?
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid, that was an entirely new point. The Question put to him was as to the nuisance, and as to that he had replied that it was an isolated act, and had not been repeated.