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There are 8 washing machines and the charge for the use of one of these machines is 6d. for a
period not exceeding half-an-hour, or 9d. per wash not exceeding a period of one hour with a fee
of 6d. for every additional half-hour or less period. The number of women using these machines
in 1930 was 18,381.
RAG FLOCK ACTS, 1911-1928.
These Acts prohibit the sale or use, for the purpose of making any article of upholstery, cushions
or bedding, of unclean flock manufactured from rags. The expression " flock manufactured from
rags " is defined as flock which has been produced wholly or partly by tearing up woven or knitted
or felted materials, whether old or new, but does not include flock obtained wholly in the processes
of scouring and finishing of newly-woven or newly-knitted or newly-felted fabrics.
Four samples of rag flock were analysed and reported upon during the year. They contained
5, 6, 7, and 10 parts of chlorine per 100,000, the limit set by the above acts being 30 parts
per 100,000.
INCREASE OF RENT AND MORTGAGE INTEREST RESTRICTIONS)
ACTS, 1920-23.
Applications made to the Council in 1930 for certificates under the Acts totalled 9, and
five certificates were granted.
The comparative failure by tenants to attempt to make use of the provisions of the Acts is
probably due to the fact that most houses in a defective state of repair come under the notice of
the sanitary inspectors, who put the Public Health Acts into operation.
CANAL BOATS ACTS, 1877 AND 1884.
The Grand Junction Canal runs through the extreme northern portion of the borough tor
about half-a-mile of its length. There are three docks connected with this portion of the canal, in
which there is accommodation for twenty to thirty boats. As is well known, many of these boats
are used for dwelling purposes by the boatmen and their families.
The Kensington Borough Council are vested with authority to enforce the Canal Boats
Acts and Regulations on all boats entering that portion of the Grand Junction Canal which
is within the boundaries of the borough.
Many years ago, an arrangement was made with the Paddington Authority, which received
the approval of the Local Government Board, for the Paddington Canal Boats Inspector to undertake
the small amount of work entailed in the borough, Paddington having a much larger length
of canal and greater dock accommodation.
In 1929 it was discovered that this arrangement was not working very well, and in October
of that year the Council appointed Mr. R. J. McCarthy, one of the district sanitary inspectors, to
be canal boats inspector and authorised him to carry out the necessary duties under the Canal
Boats Acts, 1877 and 1884, and the Regulations made thereunder.
During the year 1930, the inspector made 72 inspections, 16 of which were initial inspections,
and 56 re-inspections. In one instance children of school age were found living on the boat. In the
majority of cases the vessels were in a clean condition, and no structural or other defects were found.
Three notices were served upon the owners or occupiers, one for repainting of the cabin, and two
for improper mixing of sexes and absence of the copy of the certificate of registration.
No births or deaths occurred on boats lying at the wharves in Kensington, and no cases of
infectious disease were reported.
THE RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
The Council have delegated their powers under the Act to the Public Health Committee, and
each sanitary inspector makes inspections in his district for the purpose of detecting rat-infected
premises and reports to the Medical Officer of Health cases in which the occupiers are not taking
all practical steps to destroy the rats or to prevent their premises becoming infested.