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269
[1911
House to House Inspections.—701 houses were examined in this
manner. For several years an inspection of this character has been undertaken,
and a map showing the premises inspected has been kept. This work
is very important, and is made on the sound principle that it is the duty of a
sanitary authority to prevent sickness by seeking for the nuisances which are
likely to cause it. Hence the Medical Officer of Health has since 1899
endeavoured to have such inspections made. During the last three years,
however, they have decreased, owing to the increased duties which have
devolved on the staff through recent legislation. Up to now there was no
compulsion to make these inspections, although the Local Government Board
recommend them, yet in the future this will not be so, for the Housing and
Town Planning Act leaves no option to sanitary authorities, while the
Insurance Committees appointed under the National Insurance Act are certain
to see that the work is done. How it is to be done by the present staff in
Islington without relief in other directions, in the manner pointed out by the
Medical Officer of Health, is a problem which remains to be solved.

These figures represent a large amount of work, and show that at least
two-fifths of the houses in Islington were inspected systematically during the
last thirteen years. The Housing and Town Planning Act will expect
considerably more to be done, for it will have to be undertaken as part of the
everyday work of the Inspectors, and not, as in the past, spasmodically, which
means when other work permitted. Records, also, are to be kept in a
specified manner, which will show the defects that have been discovered,
besides other details. This work has not, however, been seriously begun
up to now, but probably before this report is in print it shall have been
commenced in the manner required by the Act. The necessary register