View report page

persons whose premises were found to harbour rats. It
was not found necessary to serve any formal Statutory
Notices.
A number of tins of rat-poison were given away to
persons requiring such poison, but when the question
of selling poison was gone into, there appeared to be
serious obstacles, legal and otherwise. Arrangements
were made, therefore, with a chemist in the vicinity of
the Town Hall to supply poison of approved composition
at a cheap rate to all persons needing it.
SMOKE PREVENTION.
During the year 85 observations of smoke shafts
were made, and in 9 cases black smoke was observed in
such quantity as to be a nuisance. Five Intimation
Notices and 2 Statutory Notices were served. The law
as it stands at present does not prohibit the emission of
black smoke from private dwelling houses, manufacturing
premises therefore mainly come under control. As
a matter of fact, it is the private dwelling houses in
their countless numbers which are responsible for
the unhealthy soot-laden condition of the London
atmosphere, but at present nothing can be done to
prevent this serious nuisance.
OFFENSIVE TRADES.
There was only one offensive trade carried on
during the year, that of a tripe boiler in Bethnal Green
Road. Two visits were paid to these premises, which
were closed for the purpose of tripe boiling on June 9th,
1921.