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Books from private subscribing libraries found in infected houses are dealt with as follows:
(a) Books which have not been exposed to infection.—Disinfected by formalin vapour and returned
to the subscriber.
(b) Books which are believed to be infected.—A notification is sent to the Librarian. The
holder is informed that the books will not be accepted at the Library and that they can
be disinfected by formalin or destroyed at his option; he is advised that destruction is
the only really safe method of dealing with the books but that this will only be carried
out on the understanding that the Council will not pay compensation.
The number of books from the Kensington Public Libraries destroyed during the year by the
Officers of the Public Health Department was 41; the number of private library books destroyed
was 18; and the number disinfected by formalin and returned to the householders was 16.
VERMINOUS ROOMS CLEANSED BY LANDLORDS.
Six hundred and eight verminous rooms were cleansed during the year in response to
notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General Powers)
Acts, 1904 and 1922.
DUST REMOVAL.
House refuse is collected once a week in most areas in the Borough but more frequent
collections are undertaken in certain special areas.
The refuse is either disposed of by cremation in the Council's destructor at Wood Lane or
removed by barge from the wharves in Kensal Road and Lots Road. Seven days is the maximum
period during which the Council are permitted by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to allow refuse
to accumulate on premises within their district. Trade refuse is removed by the Council on payment
of a fee in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the same Act. Fish offal and other
offensive trade products, which could be removed on application as trade refuse, are for the most
part removed and sold by the persons to whom this class of refuse belongs.
In compliance with notices served by the Sanitary Inspectors, 695 new movable ash-bins of
galvanised iron have been provided during the year, and 89 fixed ash-pits of brick have been
abolished under the powers conferred by Section 23 of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1904.
REFUSE REMOVAL FROM MEWS.
The common dustbins installed by the Council in July, 1921, in 21 mewsways in North
Kensington at the expense of the owners, have continued to prove a satisfactory arrangement for
storing house refuse in these particular mews in which there are a number of dwellings, stables and
costermongers' stores.
The difficulty in dealing with refuse in these so-called "mixed mewsways" has not been
entirely removed because, although the house refuse is provided for in separate bins, it is still a
common practice to place trade refuse, especially decomposed fruit and vegetables, into the manure
pits and crates, with the result that those persons who have contracted to remove the manure
object to removing a mixture of manure and trade refuse, and those who are responsible for the
removal of trade refuse object on the ground that it is mixed with stable manure.
The remedy is to put a stop to the practice of the placing of trade refuse in manure pits and
crates, but it is almost impossible to do this, particularly as there is no enactment or by-law under
which offenders can be adequately dealt with.
It is true that under Section 33 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Council are
required to remove any trade refuse if called upon to do so by the owner or occupier, but they
are entitled to claim a reasonable payment for carrying out this duty. In view of the charge
the Council can make, the costermongers do not take advantage of this Section in securing
removal of their refuse, but simply dump it in any convenient manure pit or crate.
Owing to the refusal of the manure contractor to remove the manure when mixed with trade
refuse and the difficulty of preventing the costermongers dumping their refuse in manure pits or
crates, these receptacles often remain unemptied for long periods and considerable nuisance arises.
The pits and crates become full and overflowing, and the refuse is littered over the mewsway
owing to the activities of children and fowls. It will be seen that the site becomes an excellent
breeding place for flies and a good foraging place for rats.
With a view to remedying matters, steps have been taken throughout the year to prevent the
inhabitants keeping hens and ducks in mewsways, and this action has resulted in some improvement-
DRAINAGE WORK.
Drainage work in connection with new buildings is carried out under the supervision of the
Borough Engineer, who also supervises the construction of drains on existing premises where the
work is undertaken by the owner on his own initiative. The reconstruction of drains found to be
defective by the Sanitary Inspectors is carried out under their supervision, plans of any proposed
alteration being submitted in the first instance to the Borough Engiheer and then handed on to
the Public Health Department. During the year 55 house drains have been reconstructed under
notices served by the Sanitary Inspectors.