View report page

these, owing to the scarcity of labour, our demands have not infrequently
had to be modified to meet the exigencies of particular
cases, and many defects, which in time of peace would be speedily
remedied, have had to be overlooked in view of the greater claim to
attention of more serious matters.
The number of complaints, and the inspections to which they
lead, present no great difference to previous years, and it is only
when one comes to the house-to-house inspections that one
realises the vast change that has taken place. This was brought
into being by the thought that anything which could be done to
subordinate everything to the two essentials—the provision of men
and money for the war, the only thing that counts now—should be
done, and however essential the sanitary condition of the Borough
may be, it must be absolutely subordinated to the greater aim of
achieving a victory over our enemies. No cost, even the health of
the civilians, can be regarded as in any way too great to be incurred.
For the same reason the house-to-house inspections showed a
reduction of nearly 50 per cent. This was brought about, first, on
account of shortage of staff, and, secondly, on account of the illness
of Inspector Pointon, which necessitated the transference of his
district to be worked by other inspectors in conjunction with their
own.
No action was taken under the Housing and Town Planning
Act, any serious defects having been remedied by procedure under
the Public Health Acts.
The systematic inspection of premises which may be considered
as in constant need of supervision has gone on with practically no
difference from previous years. It was felt that this policy was a
necessary one in order to see that establishments so potential for
evil, as milkshops, &c., should suffer no chance of slipping back into
ill-kept or even worse conditions.
Special attention was paid to the premises occupied by those
who are preparing articles of food for the troops. As contracts were
entered into, we received an intimation of them from the authorities,
and systematic visits were paid.
The maintenance of such inspections has meant an increase of
work for a depleted staff, but this has been met with a cheerful
alacrity on the part of your inspectors. Indeed, the way in which,
without any self-glorification, they have unassumingly carried out
their duties can only be mentioned with earnest commendation.
And in spite of their official duties they have not hesitated to offer
themselves as Special Constables, &c., duties which have practically
swallowed not merely their spare time, but also that which might
well be devoted to rest.
The whole of the eligible staff of the Public Health Department
applied for enlistment before the end of the year, and of these Inspector
Nash was absolutely rejected, while a certain number of
others were provisionally accepted. These were Inspectors Malins
and Green, and Messrs. Worsfold and Hurst, of the clerical staff.