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These adjuncts, together with the value of the steam
which can be raised from the refuse by an up-to-date
destructor plant, render this method of disposal one of
the most serviceable from an economical and sanitary
point of view. The clinker, when treated through the
plant, forms excellent roads, and there is an increasing
demand for it in other directions.
Steam has been supplied to the adjoining Electricity
Works from the Destructor for a number of years
but the present plant is now out of date for this purpose'
The total amount of refuse collected for the twelve
months ended 31st December, 1925, was 36,777 tons,
of which 7,769 were barged away, the remainder being
dealt with at the Destructor.
Housing.
•Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1923.—
Nineteen applications for certificates under the above
Act that " the house is not in a reasonable state of
repair " were received. Certificates were granted in four
of these cases. In 15 other cases the necessary repairs
were carried out at once by the owners, thus obviating
the issue of the certificate. The use of this means of
enforcing repairs appears to be increasing amongst
certain tenants. It is naturally a potent means of
persuading owners to do any necessary work, as failure
on his part to carry out such repairs as may be necessary
and the issue of the certificate by the Sanitary
Authority means that the owner will lose that part,
25 per cent., of the increased rent which is allowed
in order that the house may be kept in a reasonable
state of repair. It is found in practice, that the
majority of owners will sooner carry out the required
repairs than lose the additional rent for an indefinite
time. One difficult point with regard to these certificates
is to judge fairly as between owner and tenant
as to what constitutes the house being " in a reasonable
state of repair." One must of course take into account