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49
took proceedings against the person responsible for one of these
dumps and obtained an abatement order. Your officers were subpœnead
to give evidence in this case, and as was only to be expected,
uncomplimentary remarks were made respecting the continuance
of this practice by the Greenwich Borough Council on adjoining
land. On this matter being again reported to the appropriate
Committee, steps were at once taken by that Committee to discontinue
tipping objectionable material.
In this way one of the chief causes of complaint has been
abated. Unfortunately, private owners in some cases have not been
so careful, and it became necessary in the early part of this current
year to take further Police Court proceedings against some of these
private owners for their default in this respect.
The Ministry of Health have issued suggestive precautions for
use in connection with these tips, but when these suggestions were
brought to the notice of this Council, it was realised that to carry
them out would practically entail as much expense as would be
occasioned by giving up the tip altogether and otherwise dealing
with the refuse.
The collection of house, etc., refuse in the Borough is under
the control of the Borough Surveyor, and very few complaints
have been received as to non-collection.
Three hundred and thirty-seven new ash receptacles have been
provided.
Horse Slaughterer.—The one horse-slaughtering premises in
the Borough has been inspected and the cleansing of the premises
duly carried out.
Houses Let in Lodgings.—As mentioned in my Report last
year, the thorough supervision of this class of property will not be
possible until the new London County Council By-Laws come into
force.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
291 investigations were made by the Council's Rats Officer, but
only in one case was it found necessary to serve a notice. In my
opinion this indicates that occupiers generally are more sympathetically
disposed towards the Act and conduct the destruction of these
pests in a systematic and prompt manner.