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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Closet Accommodation.
The water carriage system is general throughout the Borough
with the exception of five outlying places where no sewers are
available, and cess pools have to be used. A small number of
sports grounds are provided with earth closets.
Sewerage and Drainage.
The number of sewers relaid or partially relaid during the
year was 8.
115 drains were totally reconstructed and 177 drainage
systems partially reconstructed or repaired during the year.
Scavenging.
The collection of house refuse is carried out by the Works
Department of the Council. A weekly collection is the rule, but
where necessary a more frequent collection is made in the case
of blocks of tenements, boarding houses, etc.
During the year attention was given to the question of
ensuring that every house had an efficient dust bin. 1,311 notices
were served for improper dust bins.
Smoke Abatement
67 observations were made for smoke nuisances. In 5
instances it was necessary to serve a statutory notice.
Owing to the shortage of British coal in the last quarter of
the year, inferior coal had to be used in the various factories in
the Borough, which in many instances was responsible for causing
a nuisance of the emission of black smoke. Steps were taken by
the Inspectors, however, to reduce to a minimum the occurrence
of nuisances by offering advice on the methods of careful and
efficient stoking.
The Public Health Smoke Abatement Act, 1926, comes into
operation on July Ist, 1927. It amends the provision of the
Public Health Act, 1875, and the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, relating to smoke nuisances.
The principal provisions of the Act deal with the following
matters:—Power to take proceedings in respect of a nuisance
from smoke which is not black. The expression " smoke " to include
soot, ash, grit and gritty particles. Power to make By-laws
prescribing standards as to the emission of smoke, and respecting
cooking and heating arrangements in new buildings, other than
private dwelling houses. Power to the Minister of Health to
authorise the County Council to carry out duties with regard to
smoke abatement in default of the Sanitary Authority, and
authority to the Minister of Health to extend the operation of
the Alkali Act.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
The same procedure was adopted as in previous years for
dealing with this nuisance.