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4. Why do you not use smokeless fuel ?
Too expensive ? 9 (15,5%)
Difficult to obtain ? 6 (10.3%)
Not sufficient heat ? 10 (17.1%)
No reply 33 (56.9%)
5. Do you bank your fire overnight ? Yes - 10 (17.1%)
No - 48 (82.8%)
The number of households concerned is too small to justify any firm comment, but
broadly the enquiry indicates that (a) the majority have tried smokeless fuels (b)
such trials have not resulted in the general use of smokeless fuels (c) smokeless
fuels when used are frequently mixed with coal and (d) banking of fires overnight
(Usually with coal slack) is fairly prevalent.
Pew householders appreciate the contribution made to atmospheric pollution by
domestic consumption of raw coal This, coupled with the cost and delays in delivery
of smokeless fuels, is retarding the progress towards clean air.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
MILK - during the year, 89 inspections were made at dairies and retail purveyors'
premises. Under the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 39 licences for the sale
of 'tuberculin tested" milk, 42 for the sale of "pasteurised" milk, and 50 for the
sale of "sterilised" milk were issued.
The Milk (Special Designations) (Specified Areas) Order, 1951, came into operation
on 1st October, 1951 This Order defined the County of Middlesex as an area
in which the use of a special designation becomes obligatory for the purpose of all
sales of milk by retail for human consumption (other than a catering sale). The
special designations permitted are sterilised", "pasteurised" and "tuberculin
tested".
Complaints of milk being supplied in dirty bottles continue to be received The
number is very small in relation to the large issue to the public. The trade provides
machinery and plant which is adequate to cleanse milk bottles which have not been
misused, but more care is needed to see that those which have not been adequatelycleansed
are removed on leaving the washing plant.
The consumer can also help by the hygienic care of the bottles. They should
never be used for any other purpose than to hold milk,. After use, they should be
well rinsed in cold water to remove any milk residue.
ICE CREAM - Under the Food and Drugs Act, premises used for " the sale or the
manufacture for the purpose of sale of ice-cream, or the storage of ice—cream intended
for sale'" must be registered. This does not apply to premises used primarily as
a club, hotel, inn or restaurant and only to a theatre, cinematograph theatre,, music
hall or concert hall if the ice cream is manufactured on the premises. The number
of premises registered at the end of the year was 230.
The Ice-Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations require all ice-cream except
complete cold-mix powders, to be heat treated with a view to killing any pathogenic
organisms which may be present and lay down the temperatures at which mixtures are to
be kept before and after heat treatment these temperatures are such as to discourage
bacterial growth
The Regulations also require that ice cream shall be protected from dirt, dust
or other contamination. The enforcement of these Regulations calls for regular and
persistent supervision of premises, plant and methods of manufacturing and handling.

The percentage of doubtful and unsatisfactory samples was 11.4, as compared
with 3.4 in 1954, 3,6 in 1953, 31.9 in 1952 and 32.5 in 1951 Most of the ice-cream
sold in the Borough is now produced by large firms employing chemists and bacteriologists
to check the quality and hygienic condition of their product.
BAKEHOUSES There are 21 bakehouses in the Borough and 93 visits of inspection
were made during the year.
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