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The Market Inspector is Mr. Francksen, who works under the
supervision of the Chief Inspector. I am pleased to say that
during the past year I have received the hearty co-operation of
the police authorities, especially in the matter of preventing
unlicensed traders from occupying pitches allotted to licence
holders, and from selling from the footway.
THE FLOOD.
In one respect this has been an altogether exceptional year.
As is well known, a large part of the borough is very low-lying,
and is in many places actually below river level. On the night of
January 6th, 1928, to be precise at about 1 a.m., on January
7th, owing to an unfortunate and unusual combination of high
tide and powerful winds, the river overflowed its banks, and consequently
a large number of riverside houses and premises were
flooded. The height reached by the flood water varied according
to the district, and was at its worst in the Silver Street Area
where the flood level reached four feet. The misery and discomfort
caused by the flood were intensified in this Area by the
derangement of the electric light sub-station, and by the bursting
of some large tanks of creosote and tar. These substances, of
course, floated on the surface, and as the water subsided they
coated everything with a sticky mess which it was almost impossible
to remove. Prompt action was taken by the Mayor (Alderman
H. C. Balman) and a corps of relief workers was organized
and actually at work in the district within a few hours. Fortunately
no lives were lost, but great damage was done to house
property and to furniture, and for a long time afterwards the
inhabitants went in fear and trembling, anticipating further floods.
Altogether seventy streets, 1,213 dwelling houses and 1,285
families were affected. Following the energetic action of the
Mayor, the Council appointed a Flood Committee which held its
first meeting on the Sunday morning, the 8th January, making
arrangements for temporary accommodation and for the supply of
bedding, fuel, food and clothing. A complete inventory was
later made of all the damage done both to houses and to furniture.
In order to make this inventory, a Sanitary Inspector and a
Health Visitor visited every one of the houses affected in company
with a clerk. In the meantime the Mayor had opened a Relief
Fund, which ultimately reached a total of £8,836 6s. 11d. To
this were added generous grants from Funds raised by the Lord
Mayor, the Mayor of Westminster, and the Mayor of Greenwich,
and altogether a sum of £22,619 6s. 2d. was reached. In addition
a gift of £500 worth of furniture was received from Messrs. Drage,
and very large numbers of smaller gifts took the form of clothing
and boots. While most of the work of repairs fell to the Works
Department, the flood provided additional work for officers of this
Department for nearly five months.