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44
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
The number of inspections of premises, including those arising
on complaint, after infectious disease, and in connection with
systematic house to house visitation, was 20,136. Re-inspections,
Calls, etc., numbered 36,800.
Public health nuisances were discovered in 5,248 of the premises
visited, necessitating the service of an intimation notice upon the
owner or person responsible. Statutory Notices requiring their
abatement had to be served in 1,629 instances, and summonses were
issued in 59 cases. A summary of the inspections carried out by the
Sanitary Inspectors is shown in the tables appearing on pages
36-38.
Smoke Abatement.
Industrial smoke is the result of imperfect combustion of coal
and is produced either by the use of an insufficiently large furnace,
insufficient ventilation, or by inexpert stoking.
It has been proved that black smoke is preventable, and is a
sure indication of wasteful and careless methods of combustion.
The invariable custom of the Department in dealing with
complaints of smoke emission is for the Sanitary Inspector to call
at the premises with a view of discovering the cause, and to offer
advice as to the best means to be adopted to prevent any further
nuisance.
Premises and Occupations Subject to Control by the
Local Authority.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
By-laws dealing with houses divided into separate tenements
were made by the London County Council in 1926. As from
June 8th, 1931, the Minister of Health approved certain amendments
made by the London County Council, the effect of these being to
bring into operation in regard to houses already decontrolled, and
to others as they become decontrolled, clauses which in the principal
by-laws were suspended whilst the Rent Restriction Acts remain
in force. These had reference to minimum air space in sleeping
rooms, paving of yards and the provision of sanitary accommodation,
ventilation and lighting of staircases, etc.
The by-laws, especially those dealing with sanitary and
hygienic requirements, are a valuable instrument in maintaining
habitable conditions in tenement houses, and as time and circumstances
permit further additions to the Register of houses let in
lodgings will be made.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Acts 1920 and 1923.
The number of certificates granted under these Acts during the
year was 22. In every case where a certificate was issued the