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46
Houses Let in Lodgings.—Very little can be done in the way
of systematic inspections until the new By-Laws to be made by the
London County Council under Sac. 26 of the Housing and Town
Planning Act, 1919, as amended by Sec. 14 of. the Housing, etc.,
Act, 1923, become law. One hundred and eighty-eight inspections
were made of the premises already on the Register.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. Four hundred and
thirty-two investigations were made by the Council's Rats Officer,
but in no case was if found necessary to serve a notice.
The usual " Rat Week " was held during the first week in
November, and followed on the lines acted upon in previous years.
Circulars were sent out to all business firms and factories in the
Borough inviting their co-operation and concerted action towards
the extermination of rats and mice.
Chemists and Hardware Dealers were also circularised with a
view to their laying in larger stocks of raticides.
Although there was a falling off in the response to the communication
sent out by the Department as to the result of the action
taken, investigations subsequently made by the Rats Officer showed
that in most cases the efforts put forward by the various owners
and occupiers of property in the Borough were carried out in a very
satisfactory manner.
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions
Acts, 1920 and 1923. Six applications were received during the
year from tenants for certificates under these Acts. Four Certificates
were granted. In the remaning 2 cases the Certificates were
not necessary, the work specified being done by the Landlord.
One application was received from a Landlord in respect of
his premises; as the required work had been satisfactorily executed
the Certificate was granted.
Other Scheduled Offensive Trades. The Offensive Trades
hitherto carried on at the Foreign Animals' Wharf have not yet
been recommenced.
A Local Committee has been putting in a great amount of work
and devoting a considerable amount of time in the endeavour to
obtain a re-opening of the whole or some part of the Foreign
Animals' Wharf for its original purposes, i.e., the reception and
slaughter of animals from abroad, which re-opening it was considered
would materially aid to the amount of work for persons
residing in the district, but during this current year this Committee
have been informed definitely that the War Office cannot release
any portion of the premises for this purpose and accordingly the
Committee has been dissolved.