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42
It will be noted that none of the outworkers are employed in food.
Outworking in food ceased to be legal in July, 1956 as a result of the
Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, onions and shrimps being temporary
exceptions.
The inspectors made 193 visits during the year which included
some to places in which no work was being done at the time of the
visit, although the outworkers were prepared to restart work when
required. Reports were submitted to the Council setting out the position
with regard to outworkers in the borough. No adverse comments were
made.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
This Act came into force on November 1, 1951, and repealed the
Rag Flock Acts, 1911 and 1928 and section 136 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936. The Act is designed to secure the use of clean
filling materials in upholstered articles and other articles which are
stuffed or lined.
Five premises are registered for the use of filling materials for
upholstery purposes, one of these being also registered for storage.
Samples of these materials proved satisfactory on examination.
Destruction of pigeons
The public, which still seems divided on whether pigeons should be
destroyed or encouraged, provided bread and other food for the birds in
different parts of the borough. The pigeons come to feed regularly
during the day but their roosting places are not always easy to locate.
Many complaints referred to woodpigeons, and damage to crops in
gardens and allotments was reported.
In April it was decided to advertise for a part-time pigeon catcher
to be employed during the breeding season (normally March to the end
of September). A few applications were received and the successful
applicant commenced duties on 23 May. He puts in a monthly report,
and by the end of the season (four months) he had reported that he had
disposed of 883 pigeons, 117 eggs and 65 nests. In addition he had killed
16 rabbits and a fox.
Sanitary work generally
Mr. Phillips, the senior public health inspector, reports : "The
total number of inspections shows a slight reduction on the previous
year. The number of complaints was considerably less but the houseto-house
figures were almost identical and no doubt helped to maintain
the number of notices served at a similar level to 1960. The visits under
the Housing Acts fell, due mainly to an unfortunate reduction in applications
for improvement grants which if used on a wider scale could
do a great deal to improve living standards in many houses in the
Borough. The number of certificates applied for under the Rent Act
continued the downward trend. This was also noticeable in the number
of outworkers visited. A great deal of the inspectors' time has been
taken up with the Clean Air Act. The survey of properties to be
included in areas continued but many inspections were also carried out
to advise on the necessary alterations of grates, to supervise the work
in progress and finally to approve the alterations when completed.
Observation of premises in smoke control areas was continued and accounted
for a similar number of visits as last year. In all the areas it
was found that the public was continuing to respond well to the requirements
of the Clean Air Act."