§ MR. COGHILL (Newcastle-under-Lyme)asked the President of the Local 734 Government Board, Whether he is aware that, since his attention was called to the matter in February last, the water of the Thames has continued to be polluted by the sewage and other refuse of house boats and steam launches; whether, if the proposed byelaw of the Thames Conservancy has not yet come into force, proceedings might have been taken against the owners of house boats and steam launches under the 29 & 30 Vict. c. 89, s. 63, which enacts a penalty of £100 for such an offence, and a further penalty of £50 for every day during which the offence is continued; and, whether an article in The Spectator of the 9th July of this year on this subject has been brought to his notice?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)My attention has not been specially called to this matter since March last. The byelaws which the Conservators have made on the subject came into force on the 18th of June. Shortly after that date the Conservators addressed notices to the owners of house boats and steam launches, drawing special attention to the requirements of the byelaw as to the discharge of sewage and offensive matters into the River, with a view to the arrangements as regards the fittings of the vessels which were necessary to prevent the pollution of the River being made without delay. It was, at the same time, pointed out that any closet communicating with the River would obviously be an infraction of the byelaw, and could not, therefore, he permitted. I have seen the article referred to in the Question.