View report page

70
The decrease which is shown in the number of general shops
and of dwelling-houses is a satisfactory result of the revision of the
Council's register. These premises are on sanitary grounds most
unsuitable for the sale of milk. It is most desirable in the interest
of the public health that milk should only be sold from premises
in which dairy produce alone is sold. Although this desirable
end has not yet been reached in Battersea, the action of the Council
in reducing the number of unsuitable premises and their refusal
to register any new applications for the sale of milk from general
shops must necessarily result in a considerable improvement in the
conditions under which the milk traffic is carried on in their
district.
All premises wherein milk is sold and stored for purposes of
sale were systematically visited and inspected during the year by
Inspector Benjamin. It was found necessary to send a few cautionary
letters for neglect in complying with the Regulations for
the protection of milk from contamination. These offences were
not of a serious character, and in no case was it necessary to resort
to more drastic measures. On the whole there has been a marked
improvement as regards the sanitary conditions under which milk
is sold in the Borough.
Fish Shops.
The fish shops in the Borough are 79 in number, an increase of
4 as compared with 1909. In 49 of these places fried fish is sold, in
20 wet and dried fish is sold, and 4 sell wet, dried and fried fish.
These premises are frequently inspected, and during the year
notices were served in 9 instances for various insanitary conditions,
all of which were complied with. In addition 64 inspections were
made by the Food Inspector at these premises.
Butchers' Shops.
There are 92 butchers' shops in Battersea, all of which are
regularly and systematically inspected by Inspector Chuter. In
52 of these premises sausage-making or meat chopping is carried
on, the work being done by hand in 37 instances and by machinery
in 15 cases.
Ninety of the shops are provided with ice safes.
The trade refuse is, in most cases, moved bi-weekly or oftener
from these premises, and they are well kept and, on the whole, in
a satisfactory condition.
During 1910, 901 inspections of butchers' shops were made.