View report page

48
1926]
Notices Served There were 4,803 intimation notices served by the
inspectors with respect to nuisances. In 582 instances it became necessary, as
the intimations to owners or occupiers of the properties had been ignored, to
report the nuisances to the Public Health Committee, who ordered statutory notices
to be served.
Verminous Premises—Bedding and Clothing.—74 premises which
were found to be in a verminous condition, were cleansed by the owners or
occupiers upon receiving the Inspectors' intimations. In 9 instances it was
necessary to remove the bedding and clothing to the Disinfecting Station for
purification or destruction.
Smoke Nuisances.—52 complaints of smoke issuing from factory chimneys
in the Borough were investigated, and as a result 121 observations were made
by the Districts Inspectors, and 2 notices served upon the owners of the businesses
requiring the abatement of the nuisance. In no instance, however, was
it found necessary to institute legal proceedings.
SPECIAL WORK DURING PERIOD OF GENERAL STRIKE.
The period covered was from the 1st May in the afternoon, the dispute
ending on the 10th May. During this time, about 220 tons of refuse, house and
trade, arrived at the Ashburton Grove Dep6t daily. The accumulation, however,
very soon reached large dimensions. Only one, on the 4th May, was there an
opportunity of any of the material being got away, and this was but 18 trucks.
The Medical Officer of Health suggested that the risk of serious nuisance
arising from the accumulation might be temporarily stayed by efficient spraying.
Such spraying as a temporary measure keeps down offensive smells and flies.
The Superintendent of the Department and one of the Sanitary Inspectors went
into the matter. There was no appliance for carrying out work of such dimensions
to hand, the usual spray used for disinfection work being too small to make
any progress with such large quantities of material. A tar spraying machine
was borrowed from the Borough Engineer's Department. It was found, however,
in its condition to be useless, and work had to be undertaken of stripping
and cleaning the valves and putting the machine in order for use as a disinfecting
spray. This was carried out by the Inspector, and subsequently it proved to be
efficient for the purpose. When the strike ended there were about 1,600 tons of
refuse lying at the depot. The work of spraying was carried out by the
disinfectors of the Public Health Department every morning between 8 a.m. and
9 a.m., under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspector deputed for this work,
which was continued until the whole of the refuse was completely removed, this
being accomplished by the 1st July, 1926. During the whole of this time daily
sprayings took place. The amount of disinfectant used was 140 gallons of special
liquid disinfectant which was diluted to the strength of one part of disinfectant
to 12 parts of water. Forty gallons of this solution was sprayed at each visit.
As regards results, during the period no complaints were received of offensive
smells which could be attributed to the refuse, and from enquiries and
observations it would appear that the number of flies was much less than in
previous summers. The potency of the disinfectant used was proved by the fact