§ 14. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the inconvenience and annoyance suffered by the public through certain ditches in the country becoming silted up and overgrown, causing a breeding place for mosquitos and other insects, he will give instructions to all local authorities that owners of land containing such stagnant pools be compelled under the Public Health Act to have these places cleaned out and sprayed with an adequate insecticide?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Chamberlain)I have no authority to give such instructions. Under Section 91 of the Public Health Act, 1875, any pool, ditch, etc., in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious to health is to be deemed a nuisance liable to be, dealt with under the Act. The question whether any particular pool is a nuisance is one of fact to be determined by the Court in any proceedings instituted under the Section.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman see his way to draw the attention of local authorities to this particular section, as a good many of them are not aware of it?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not think that there is any necessity for that.