§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Local Government Board sanctioned loans for sewerage and water supply at Otford and Dunton Green, in the Sevenoaks Union, in spite of the protests of nearly the whole of the inhabitants, and in face of the fact that these places were supplied with water admittedly not impure, and with earth closets which are recognized by the Public Health Act as efficient means of excrement disposal; and, whether, in such cases, the Board is accustomed to disregard the wishes of a whole parish without inquiring into the motives that prompt a Rural Sanitary Authority to promote expensive sewerage schemes?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George'sThe Local Government Board have sanctioned loans for works of water supply and sewerage for the parish of Otford, which includes the villages of Otford and Dunton Green. Before sanction was given a public inquiry was held in the locality by one of the Board's Inspectors at which a large number of ratepayers attended. The objections raised at the inquiry by certain of the ratepayers to the scheme of the Rural Sanitary Authority were reported to the Board by the Inspector, and duly considered by them. Communications on the subject were also 838 received from ratepayers after the inquiry was held, and these were also carefully considered. Evidence was given at the inquiry by the Medical Officer of Health that the existing water supply at Dunton Green was bad, and it further appeared that some, at least, of the houses at Otford were badly supplied. There was also evidence that sewerage was needed, and it was pointed out that if a system of earth closets were adopted the slop water would still have to be dealt with. I have no information to show that earth closets have been generally provided in the places in question.