§ 64. Sir STEPHEN COLLINSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the condition of many of the streets of London owing to the resolve of the various local authorities to discontinue the watering of the streets; whether he is aware that this neglect of a sanitary regulation is a peril to the health of the community, especially during the summer months, when sometimes dense clouds of impure matter are blown about and inhaled by pedestrians and wafted into open windows; and will he take the necessary steps to impress upon local authorities the importance of finding some means to carry out the duty of watering and purifying the public thoroughfares?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy right hon. Friend has made some inquiry into this matter, but has not learnt that any Metropolitan Borough Council has discontinued street watering. In some cases street watering has been reduced from reasons of economy, and in more cases still from the difficulty in getting labour. I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 22nd May for a statement of his opinion on the policy of reducing street watering.
§ Sir S. COLLINSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many London districts there is scarcely any watering at all; is he aware that in many districts, instead of watering the streets, they are using a horsed-broom, which sends the dust into the houses where windows are open; and does he think it desirable to have this sort of thing occurring to the peril of infant life?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERAlthough there may be some things taking place which would not occur in normal times, yet certainly there must be no deduction from that fact that the Local Government Board is allowing any serious nuisance to take place.