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III.—SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
In Table X. of Appendix will be found particulars of the general sanitary work for 1904
by the different inspectors, and in Table VII. the number of premises on the register to which
special attention has been paid, such as milkshops, etc. The house-to-house inspections, which
number 5,073, are fewer than in 1903, but this is no doubt due to two of the districts being some
time without an inspector, one between January 14th, when Mr. Davies left the Council's service,
and March 7th, when Mr. Harris commenced duties, and the other between September 2nd,
when Mr. Williams left, and October 3rd, when Mr. Jones commenced duties.
The number of re-inspections was 24,707, against 24,409 in 1903. The number of
intimations served was 3,670, against 4,251 in 1903. Part of the reduction is no doubt due to
the cause above mentioned. The number of statutories was 899, against 1,314 in 1903. This
reduction appears to me satisfactory, since it shows that the work was largely done on the first
notice.
Offensive Trades.
The same number of offensive trades, viz., 13, are on the register as during 1903. They
consist of the following:—
Tripe boiler 1
Glue and size makers 4
Fat melters 4
Fellmongers 3
Manure manufacturers 1
118 inspections were made, against 58 in 1903, and 3 notices were served. Several minor
defects were remedied without notice being served. I have so far found the occupiers of these
premises ready and willing to carry out any reasonable suggestion for the prevention of
nuisances.
There were two prosecutions in connection with these trades in 1904, both against the
manure manufacturer J. A. Smith (later known as Freeland, Smith & Co.). In the first case he
was fined £1 and 2s. costs for having the door of the closed chamber in which the offensive
process is carried on, open at an improper time, and in the second the firm were fined £5 and 2s.
costs for allowing the fire which consumes the offensive vapours of this chamber to go out, in
both these cases causing an offensive smell in the neighbourhood.
Offensive Matter.
Five summonses were taken out under the London County Council bye-laws for carrying
offensive matter through the streets at improper hours or in improper receptacles : —
Offence.
Result.
Date.
Name and Address.
Carriage of fish offal in unsuitable
receptacle
£5 and 2s. costs
Jan. 5, 1904
Dennis Sheehan, 208, Rotherhithe
New Road
T. Maule, The Grange
Carriage of offensive matter
in unsuitable receptacle
£2 & 2s. costs, summonsagst.
carman dismissed
Sept. 21, 1904
Carriage of offensive matter
during prohibited hours
£1 & 2s. costs, summonsagst.
carman dismissed
Sept. 30, 1904
A. Stannard, 16, Sudlow Road,
Wandsworth
Milk Premises.
There were 286 milk premises on the register at the end of 1903, 18 were added and 3
removed in 1904, making a total of 301 on the register at the end of the year under report.
The number of inspections was 444 and 15 notices were served.
Cowsheds.
There are seven cowsheds in the Borough, these were regularly inspected. Unfortunately
in the table from which the inspections are taken the cowsheds and slaughterhouses are put
under one head, the total inspections being 170. They will be separated in future reports.
Slaughterhouses.
There are three at present in the Borough. A small number of the inspections under
the latter head should be included here.
Ice Cream Premises.
There were 68 premises, where ice cream was manufactured, on the register at the end of
1903, one was added making the total 99 in 1904.
There were 285 inspections of these premises and 14 notices served. We are still without
any power to make regulations regarding the actual process of manufacture, and I hope that
some legislation will be brought in enabling Sanitary Authorities to deal with this subject.
Houses let in Lodgings.
In 1903 there were 207 "houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than
one family" on the register, and during 1904, 11 more were added bringing the total up to 218.
These, according to the instructions of the Public Health Committee, were visited quarterly,
the total number of inspections being 462.
95 notices were served and 2 of these were for overcrowding. No further proceedings
were required.