The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-12-15 00:00:00

THE SANATORY ACT.

A special meeeting of the Town Council was held yes-
terday for the purpose of receiving the report of the com-
mittee specially appointed to make the necessary arrange-
ments for carrying out the several provisions of the Sa-
natory Act, which comes into operation, in this borough,
on the Ist of January next. The council was numerously
attended. The Mayor presided.
The following report from the committee was read by
the TOWN-CLERK
" REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS FOR
CARRYING OUT THE SEVERAL PROVISIONS OF THE
SANATORY ACT, WHICH COMES INTO OPERATION ON
THE FIRST OF JANUARY NEXT, AND TO TAKE ALL
NECESSARY STEPS POR SECURING AN ADEQUATE
SUPPLY OF WATER TO THE BOROUGH, FOR DO-
MESTIC, MANUFACTURING, AND OTHER PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC PURPOSES.

" Before proceeding to their recommendation as to
the best mode of carrying into effect the provisions of the
Sanatory Act, the committee beg to refer to the ac-
companying report of the Town-clerk to the committee,
in which report the provisions of the Act defining the
powers and duties entrusted to, and imposed upon the
council, are classified under the following heads :
" Ist.—The appointment of officers.
" 2nd.—Powers as to paving.
" 3rd.—Powers as to severing.
"4th.—Powers as to cleansing.
" sth.—Powers as to the construction of dwellings.
" 6th.—Powers as to the suppression of nuisances.
" 7th.—General regulations sanatory purposes not
coming under any of the foregoing heads-.
" Bth.—Powers relating to the supply of water.
" 9th.—Powers as to the levying rates, and borrowing
money on the credit of such rates.
" 10th.—Powers to make bye-laws.
" llth.—Powers for the recovery of penalties under
the act and under the bye-laws, and the application
of such penalties.
" The first section of the act provides that the mayor,
aldermen, and burgesses, shall, by the Council, be em-
powered to carry the act, and the several powers thereof,
into execution. The present Health Act is then recited,
and it is enacted, that the Health Committee and the
Surveyors appointed under that act shall have all such
and the like power and authorities, and be subject to
such and the like duties and .liabilities under the Council
for carrying into effect and 'executing the provisions of
this sect, as are granted to, or 'vested in, or imposed upon
them, for carrying into eirect and executing the Health
het.

" By that act, the Council are required, from time to
'time, as they shalt deem expedient, to appoint, for such
'time as they may think proper, a sufficient number of
their own body, who, together with the mayor, shall be a
committee for the purpeses hereinafter mentioned—that
is to say, the sanatory purposes specified in the act, and
contained in the 4th and following sections of the act, up
to the 25th inclusive. But inasmuch as the several ob-
jects of those sections are more efficiently 'provided for
under the Sanatory A:et, those sections of the Health Act
are thereby repealed on and after the ;ISt of January
next; and in appointing the Health Committee on,the
9th of November last, the duration of that committee
w's therefore limited until the lst of January next.
" The object of the act in requiring that these various
duties should tie carried out by one committee, was to
secure that uniformity of action which can only be ob-
tained under•'combined manageore,rt, and to relieve the
public from the inconvenience of being referred to diffe-
rent Boards.

" Your Committee find that this principle has been
acted epon by the Council; the members of the 'Watch
Committee having been annually, since the passing of the
Municipal Act, by a separate resolution appointed the
Lighting Committee, and by distinct appointments also
the Cleansing Committee and theifire Police Committee.
Under these several appointments, the Watch‘ Committee
has now 'under its controul, much of the 'machinery re-
-4:lnked forearrying out the Sanatory Act ; and‘your corn-
mittee therefore recommend, that the members of the
Watch(Committee should., on theist of January next, be
appointed the Health Committee under the*Samitory Act,
with the addition of such members of the present Health
Committee conversant with the peculiar duties of that
committee, as the Council may think fit to appoint.
" By this arrangement, all' the clerks, collectors, and
other bficers now employed in connection•arth the light.
ing,•fire, police, and 'other rates, would be available for
the performance of similar ditties under • the Sauatory
Act ; and as the Watch Committee have the management
of the police force constantly on duty in every part of the
'borough, that force wouldt readily be available to insure
'compliance with the directions of the committee, and
for the purpose of reporting any neglect-of the officers
more immediately employed'under•the act.
_ _

The Commitise so cOnstitited would-probably find it
necessary to continue the practice of the Watch Commit-
ttee, of appointing.sub-committees for particular purposes,
as for instance, to .one sub-committee might be referred
'the paving, flagging, and-rcpciring of 'public streets; and
'the flagging of courts and passages, the cleansing of
stneets, courts, &c, suppression of nuisances and other
'duties in connection with -scavenging .to another sub-
.-committee, the sowering-and supply Zf-ivater for public
purposes ; to another,• all. matters relating to the construe-
Con of dwellings, 'regulation .of lodging-horses, and other
--scoatory objects; end to another, all financial arrange-
.cients, the superintendence of the collectors of rates,
borrowing of rnoney,Ac.
" The proceedings of each sub-conamittee would, of
course, be subjectto thesanction of the.general commit-
tee, to the weekly meetings of which they would be re-
.ported.
•4 In order to giecure -the advantages ..of combined ma-
.nagement, it appears to your .committeuessential that all
the officers En connexion with the various departments
•should be concentratecEin one building, which should
.comprise offices for
"The LocaiSnrveyor.
"Medical Officen Apt-Heal t h
" Building 'Surveyor.
" Superiute.ndeut of.t•Scavengers.
" Inspector of Nuisances and Slivgkter-houses.
" Treasurer.
" Clerk.
" Pay offices, &c.
" The Head Constable and police,with committee-
rooms, Scc.

"The Health Committee, when appointed, will be most
Isrompetent to inform the Council as to the sufficiency of
the present offices for all these purposes ; end your COW-
anittee therefore only report that the Sanatcry Act enables
the Council to purchase or hire lauds or buildings for
these purposes.
" Your committee beg; again to refer to the report of
the Town-clerk -for information as to the cnTicers required
to be appointed. It may probably be found more conve-
nient to leave the recommendation of the officers to the
new Health Committee ; but inasmuch as no effectual
steps can be taken with reference to sewerfng and other
important purposes until the Local Surveyor is appointed,
your committee 'recommend the Council -to advertise or
take other steps to obtain a .competent •person, qualified
as a civil engineer, to:fill- that office. :Your committee,
considering the very onerous duties to he discharged by
this officer, and how important it is that azentleman is
every way qualified for the ;efficient discharge of those
duties should be appointed, in whom the Council and the
pubic may hype full .confidence, recommend that his
salary should be COQ per annum, he devoting his whole
time and attention to the duties of the office a:defined by
the act, and subject to such, further directions and regu-
lations as the Counl and, committee may fucm time to
time order and make.

" Another important officer, is also required to be ap-
,,rointed as Medical Officer of, Health ; and as Cs services
will be immediately.required, your committee -recommend
that be should also be appointed as early as possible, and
that his salary be £3OO per annum ; it being.understood
that, subject to the regular and efficient discharge of the
duties defined by the act, this °Beer be at liberty to
continue private medical practice.
The appointments.ef the, Local Surveyor and Medi-
acrael:aooffibiceeert of Health,
the approval
oanvald tohfetshaos
loarycoreftathrye
olafttseit-ate. officer,
Your committee have made, application for a copy of
the-Ordnance survey Of 411 e. borough, on the scale of 60
inches to .a mile ; and though some difficulties havt, been
experienced relative to the copy, your committee '_tope
that it may be obtained .with little delay. No effectual
measures relative to sewerage can be undertaken ~until
the map is obtained.
",.Your committee have applied to the Highway Boazds
of Liverpool and Toxteth-park, and to the authorities of
the other townships, for information at to the officers
employed by them in connexion with the duties now to
be performed by the Council, and also the length of
streets so their several townships, amount of rates, and
other necessary information; and the answers of the Li-
verpooi and Toxteth-park Boards, being all those yet re-
ceived, are appended to this rep.srt.
" Your.committee will proceed to make such further
arrangements, and to collect such additional information,
as may be necessary to assist •the Health Committee,
when appointed, in carrying out the provisions.of the act.
" Wirw N asc ICOL, Chairman."
A return prepared in accordance with a resolution of
the Special <Committee of the Council. which was ap-
pended to this-report, shows that the able law adriser to
the Highway Board (Mr. E. a Deane) has held that im-
portant office for upwards of sixteen •years, and the effi-
cient treasurer (Mr. Capes Ashlin,) has also been ,em-
ployed by the board nearly the same lenztl, of time. One
of the collectors (Mr. Widdows,) has been in that sitLa-
ition for twenty-nine years. There about 415 {saviours and
masons, and 155 labourers and others employed by the
board, at a cost of £2OO.
The lands or buildings vested in the board, for public
purposes, comprise the following :—The Green Lane
Estate, West Derby. containing 16*. 3a. 3.P., which
originally cost £4,300. The Commissioners have sunk
wells, for supplying the town with water, and are now
erecting the engine house, &c. ; but only about four acres
of the land is used for tbe works. The house, &c., with
the remainder of the land, is let for farming purposes, at
a rent of 436 per annum ; and the clay alone could now
be sold, if thought desirable, at a higher price than was
paid for the whole of the property in the first instance,
leaving the land to be sold for building purposes after-
wards. The Kensington Estate, West Derby, contains
six acres, and coat £3,630. The Commissioners have
built a reservoir thereon, capable of containing nine mil-
lion gallons of water; and there is sufficient land left to
build another reservoir of the same capacity.
The Commissioners of Toxteth Park have also furnished
a return ; but it merely enumerates the officers employed,
with their salaries, &c.
Mr. LACE moved the adoption and confirmation of the
report, and said he would reserve his observations in the
expectation that questions would be put to him. It would
be seen that, substantially, the council, in all cases with-
in the operation of the act, would become only a court of
appeal; and that the real business in its details would be
divided between the Finance and the new Health Com.

Tub LIVERPOOL WfAivbAkb.

mittees. The new Health Committee would have, for its
branches, the cleansing and so on. The various sub-
committees would report to the general committee weekly ;
and these sub-committees would, in fact, perform the
whole business to be done under the act.
Mr. TURNER seconded the adoption of the report.
. .

Mr. Tea rose with reluctance to object to any part
of the report, especially as be 'had never sat upon any
committee where there had been more unanimity or a
greater desire to further the public interests. His objec-
tion lay against the recommendations relating to the scale
of salaries to the two most important officers under the
act, the civil engineer and the medical officer. The report
stated, fully, the very onerous duties which wouhi fall
upon the engineer or surveyor; and he (Mr. Tinne)
could not reconcile it to himself that the recommendation
of £7OO a year was a competent salary for a gentleman
with the acquirements necessary for the efficient discharge
of this duty. A civil engineer was required, to act as
local surveyor as to drainage and other works required
by the act; and when the expensive education which was
necessary to qualify any person as a civil engineer was
considered, and the great competition there now was for
the services of gentlemen in that profession, he could not
conceive that for £7OO per annum one could be obtained
who would suit the Council. This officer would be re-
quired not only to have a theoretical knowledge of his
profession, but also great practical knowledge of it; in
fact, no man who had not had great experience could be
properly qualified for it. He must be independent both as
to fortune and character. Instead of £7OO being an adequate
remuneration, double that amount would, he thought, be
required to ensure an efficient man •, at any rate nothing
less than £lOOO per annum would be satisfactory to him.
With reference to the medical officer, it was recommended
in the report that he should be allowed to take private
practice. He (Mr. Tinne) had great objections to the
principle of divided interests and divided duties. (Hear.)
The duties of this officer, like those of the engineer, would
be of a very onerous character, as would be seen by the
22d clause of the act. He was required to be a man of
skill and experience; be must inspect and report periodi-
cally upon the sanatory condition of the borough ; he must
ascertain the,existence of disease, more especially fevers,
the cause of mortality among the inhabitants, and every
contingency affecting the public health ; he must attend
to the ventilation of•churches end chapels; and in fact
many other duties were required of him. The Health of
Towns Commissioners reported it to be their opinion
that this officer should give direct and undivided atten-
tion to the duties of his office, and in their 29th recom-
mendation they gave effect to this opinion. So far as his
own personal experience had gone he had never found it
to answer to permit a divided interest ; and, therefore,
instead of £3OO per annum with a divided duty, Le would
give £7OO at least with no divided duty. The whole time
of this officer should be devoted to his duties to the cor-
poration. He (Mr. Tinne) should not, however, move
any amendment upon the subject; but he should not have
done what he conceived to be his duty if he had not stated
his objections to this part of the report, in the rest of ,
which he entirely concurred.
Mr. Nicol. said It was quite true that at the preserit
period, which might be considered one of •cxcitement-vs
regarded engineers, 'most of them were receiving more
than £7OO per annum. But it must be remembered,
that this would be a permanent appointment; and that,
as the duties to be performed were onerous and extensive,
it was scarcely Ito be supposed that this officer, the
engineer-in-chief. could perform them unaided. •To a
certain extent 'he would superintend their perfertrance ;
and assistance 'would be required. It would be ad.
vantageous to-secure the services of em officer of the royal
engineers, many of whom held appointments throughout
the country, and very efficient officers they were. •(Hear.)
He was under a strong impression 'that £7oo,per annum
would be stiff:dofficer,
ent for such an with the prospect
of art increase, if it should be thought advisable. At all
events, seeing that the sanatory-condition of krge towns
had attracted so much attention, opening as it were
a new brartzia of the profession, he thought £7OO per
annum would be adequate to induce officers of the engi-
neers—men of high character- and practicaltducation, to
offer their services to the 'Corporation. It was the
oeinion of Mr. James liolnre, that £7oowould be a fair
remuneration. Besides, it ewas easier. to raise salaries
when the? were too low, then to lower them when they
were too high. Another consideration bad some weight
with the committee in recommending this amount. The
presenteurveyor, [Mr. Franklin,] had'4loo; and as this
was anew office, it was tbeught it would be invidious if
the new officer received the larger -sum for analogous
duties. As to the salary of £3OO for the medical officer,
he conceived it sufficient' to induce amen of the highest
qualifcations to offer his services, if, along with it,-be
were permitted to retain private 'practice. The per-
mission as to private practice would not be prejudicial to
the public interest; indeed he thoughtit would be almost
impossible to restrict the medical officer in this respect,
seeing that in the execution of his duties, he would be
drawn into contact with persons requiring assistance, at
almost every turning. •It -would 'be a disadvantage
to him, and to the public service also, if he had
•not the privilege Of private practice ; inasmuch as
many of his duties would merely' be matters of ordinary
detail. At first starting both 'these appointments
would of course require a great deal of attention; but
• when their duties were once moulded into regular order,
they would not, be conceived, beeeonerous as many gen-
tlemen seemed to suppose.
AIKIN inquired what Mr. Lace meant by the ex-
pression, that the Council would become only a "court-of
appeal." Had not the Council', Tower of approbation
and confirmation.?

Mr. LACE replied in the affirmative. lie merely meant
that details would be entirely in the wands of the commit-
tees, so that althoug4 the proceetlinD would be read in the
Council, the Council would be little more than a court of
appeal.
Mr. Anus: wished to be informed, whether additional
powers would be given to the *loalth Committee or the
VBinanee Committee.
I Mr. LACK.—No.

Mr. Hinoms could not help-thinking that the anaalga-
.rnation (for that was what was ment.t by the union) of the
-Health Committee and the Watch Committee, would be
throwing such heavy duties upon one, that there must be
necessarily an enlargement of that committee to an ex-
'tent that he did nct see how it could possibly work. The
Match Committee already consisted of 25 members,
which was found.te be as many as-could be brought loge-
:ther to perforereths necessary work; and when that num-
ber were collected, the business was often delayed by in-
! formation, already given, having to be given again. The
duties of the Highway Board had been very heavy indeed ;
..and be should think they would require a committee
distinct and separate from those necessary for the work-
ing of this act.
Mr. LACE said' Mr. Higgins .had entirely misappre-
hended the report. The Health Committee, under the
new act, woukl embrace everything except watching.
'Health, pavingesewerage, and cleansing were obliged se
he under the char.gc of the Health Committee ; and when
the report spoke of merging it into.the Watch Cosomit-
-tee, it was merely that until the let of November next,
.the Health Committee might haye.the services of the po-
lice, not that the powers of watching now vested in the
Watch Committee sere to be transferred to the Health
Committee. -.A -sob-committee .would then take the
highway and the other departments.
VMr. HIGGINS replied that the amalgamation of the
twasommittees into a general committee, with power to
appoint subcommittees, to carry out the details of the
aet,,was (and he meant no cffenee by the expression)a
clurow way of working machicery, which was already in
complete operation.
Mr: LACE— Howscrould you work.it otherwise ?
Mr, HIGGINS diel.not see the object of making the two
committees into (metal the let of November, seeing that
all the machinery• required was now in actual operation.
No .other board could undertake to ,discharge the duties
which the Highway Board had had tck discharge, to the
satisfaction of the town. The new dut:es as to health,
the supply of water, and so on, would. be sufficient to
occupy the Health Committee.
Mr. :11;not. inquired whether the elisting Health Com-
mittee did not expire this month ?
The TOWN-CLEILK.—.I2S.
Mr. Harzouis, in continuation, said east committee
might be re-appointed, and there was ~,vower in the
act to appoint separate and distinct committees to carry
all ottser duties out. He concluded by me* gan amend-
ment to the effect that the newly created duties under the
Sanatory Act be referred to a separate and d:stinct com-
mittee.
Mr. H. 110,RNRY said Mr. Higgins misapprehended
the recommendations. The committee recommended that
a distinct and .separate committee should be appointed,
and they could ,reoommend nothing else, because the act
of parliament so. directed. It was to be called the Health
Committee, and it was recommended that in,the first
place it should.consist of those who were members of the
Watch Committee, with such _additions as the:Council
might appoint. Mr. .Higgins ,complained of the great
‘increase of duties ,which members of the WatcbcCom-
,mittee would have. :Unquestionably the whole Council
had very onerous duties imposed upon them by this
act. Some memhersof the Council must discharge those
duties ; and whether -they devolved upon the Watch, or
upon any other committee, the different members woe!,d
have greatly increased. duties when the act came into ope-
ration. But if this recommendation of the Sanatory
Committee were adopted, the new committee would pro.-
hably,meet altogether upon a different day to the Watch
Committee. The new committee would be a distinct and
separate, committee, though portly composed of members
of the Watch Committee,and would have distinct and sepa-
rate duties. In the first plac,eit would appoint a Cleansing
Sub-cotan-ittee, which was at present done ihy the Watch
Committee; and a Paving Sub-committee, those duties
being now discharged by the Highway Board. Some
members moat discharge these duties, and be could not
conceive any better qualified than those who had hitherto
discharged analagous duties. This new committee would
also have to discharge the duties of the present Health
Committee, and it was proposed that the members
of
that body should ,be re-appointed for that purpose. He
could not conceive how Mr. Higgins could make any ar-
rangement less onm-ous than that now proposed. Mr.
I-I ornhrconc shouldludee d
concluded by zuggeissctuinsgted
Mr. Higgins thastepthaeraatemlyenfdrmomenttielef
questions relating to the engineer and the medical officer.
The MAYOR and Council having assented to this sug-
gestion,—
Mr. LACE said, that under the Sanatory Act, the
Highway Board, the Health Board, and the Cleansing
Board, were all consolidated sad put under one body, to
be called the Health Board. Mr, Higgins contended that
the Highway Board should have a separate committee.
It could not, under the act. The act, and also Lot d Lin-
coln's Bill, was silent as to sub-committees. The Coun-
cil was therefore bound to base the parting, draining, and
health of the town apparently under the management of
one committee. That, however, in praetice, would be
impossible: tberefore the idea of the committee who pre-
sented this report was, that a large number of gentlemen
should be appointed ; and that as the new Health Board
took all the duties of the Highway Board and the Cleans-