CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN TOWNS 809
drainage, or a sufficient water-supply, would contribute to a 4-D.177
diminution of mortality!, They also pointed out that the
injury to health, which arose from noxious manufactures,
might be minimised by proper precautions’. The Public 3 Hoi
Health Act of 1848 was based on their recommendations; ment as
it created a central authority* to take steps through the 9°"
action of inspectors for constituting local boards; the powers
given under the Act provided for the removal of nuisances,
and for insisting that any new buildings® erected should
conform with a new standard of sanitary requirement. Ad-
ditional powers were conferred from time to times®, as to the
removal of nuisances and insanitary property, but so long as
the Local Boards were separate and independent bodies little
progress was made in enforcing the Acts. Since the consti-
tution of the Local Government Board in 18717, there has
been more possibility of bringing pressure to bear on the
local authorities, and of exercising some control over sanitary
zonditions in all parts of the country. The analogy of the
system of factory and mining reform has not been followed
very far, however, as various aspects of the sanitary problem
are dealt with by different departments, instead of being
committed to one central authority, and there is not sufficient
staff for constant inspection.
In the meantime a beginning was made in dealing with
another side of the problem. It was not only necessary to The work
see to the qualitative conditions of the labourers’ dwellings, but Lo for
to take steps with a view to providing an amount of accommo- die
dation that should meet local requirements, without serious
danger of overcrowding. Lord Shaftesbury’s Labouring
ut on an
inadequate
scale.
t Reports of Commissioners for inquiring into the State of Large Towns, 1845,
vit, 7.
* Reports, 1845, xviir. 51. 8 11 and 12 Vict. c. 63.
¢ The Central Board was reconstituted in 1854, and in 1858 its powers were
iransferred to the Privy Council.
8 The Report of the Select Committee of 1840, which contains some interesting
statistics as to the rapid growth of Manchester, Glasgow, and other factory towns
‘Reports, 1840, x1. 279), advocated the introduction of a General Building Act.
Rules were laid down for London in 1844 (7 and 8 Vict. c. 84) and permissive
powers were conferred on local authorities generally in 1858.
8 18 and 19 Vict. c. 121 and 29 and 30 Viet. c. 90.
! The necessity of better sanitary administration was one of the chief reasons
for taking this step. Reports. 1871, xxxv. 37.
