HC Deb 14 July 1853 vol 129 cc239-41

Bill, as amended, considered.

MR. HALSEY

said, he was aware of very improper practices with relation to the proceedings of the Board of Health, the engineers being often the contractors. He should, therefore, beg to move an Amendment, which he hoped would rectify such anomalous proceedings.

Clause— That it shall not be lawful for the General Board of Health, after the first day of September 1853, to nominate or appoint any person as Superintending Inspector, otherwise than at a fixed yearly salary: Provided always, That any such person so appointed, shall be removeable at any time by the said Board, upon three calendar months' notice; and that it shall not be lawful for any person so appointed, to receive any money, emolument, fee or reward, directly or indirectly, from any party, except from the said Board, for or in respect of any work or plans of works executed or to be executed under the authority of the said Board.

Brought up, and read 1o.

SIR WILLIAM MOLES WORTH

said, the object of the Bill was simply to confirm provisional orders of the Board of Health, more particularly in the application of the Health of Towns Act to certain towns. He objected to this clause because it did not come within the title and intention of the Bill. Nevertheless he agreed in the general principle of the clause. The inspectors were not salaried officers of the Board, but were employed, as it were, by the job, and they were, therefore, at liberty to get employment elsewhere. It appeared to him that they should be salaried officers, and not be at liberty to take employment elsewhere. The matter had been under consideration, and when the general subject of the Board of Health was brought forward next year, it was the intention of Government to make a change similar to that proposed by the hon. Gentleman.

SIR GEORGE PECHELL

said, he should support the clause. These inspectors went to towns, and a tenth of the inhabitants having declared themselves in favour of introducing the Health of Towns Act, the inspectors made work for themselves. He thought the Board of Health ought to be reconstituted.

MR. LOCKE

said, the proceedings of the Board of Health were antagonistic to the municipal feeling of the country. Whether the clause was brought up or not, he trusted there would be an alteration in the Health of Towns Act.

Motion made and Question, "That the said Clause be now read a Second Time," put, and negatived.

MR. BARROW

said, he would now move the Proviso of which he had given notice, Section 2.

Amendment proposed— In page 2, line 25, after 'Act,' to add the following Proviso:—'Provided, that it shall not be lawful for the Local Board of Health of the district of Hertford to construct or use, or suffer or permit to be constructed or used, any sewers or drains by means of which the sewage of the said district, or any part thereof, shall be carried into the River Lee at or above the point of the said river in the parish of St. John, Hertford, where the balance engine of the Governor and Company of the New River brought from Chadwell and Amwel! to London is erected, by means of which the said Governor and Company of the New River derive their supply of water from the sag River Lee for the supply of the Metropolis.

MR. COWPER

said, the corporation o Hertford were engaged in negotiation which might have the effect of securing the object contemplated in the proviso. As the representative of Hertford, he felt bound to oppose the Amendment.

Question put, "That the Proviso be there added."

The House divided:—Ayes 23; Noes 47: Majority 24.

SIR GEORGE PECHELL

said, he wished to move a Proviso relating to the Provisional Orders of the Board of Health

Amendment proposed— In page 2, line 85, after 'Act,' to add the following Proviso:—'that it shall not be lawful for the General Board of Health to put in force any of the provisional orders, unless upon the petition of a majority of the inhabitants rated to the relief of the poor of any such places referred to in the said Schedule.'

MR. BASS

said, he regretted that such a Bill should have been introduced at so late an hour, and that the Government should have postponed the amendment of the Board of Health until next Session He apprehended that the right hon. Baronet had sufficient influence with the Board virtually to carry out the object.

SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH

said he had before stated that he was oppose to the application of the powers of the Board of Health to any town where it was objected to by the majority of the inhabitants; but he must oppose the clause as not coming within the stop of the Bill.

Motion made, and Question, "That Proviso be there added," put, and negatived.