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16
Action taken in regard to smoke nuisances
During the year 1953, there were 14 complaints of smoke
nuisance, as a result of which 71 observations were made.
The premises concerned comprised 3 separate large blocks of
flats (two privately owned and one municipally owned), two
departmental stores, one hospital, and one restaurant.
Remedial measures were secured in all cases by informal
action, with the exception of one case where it was necessary
to serve a formal notice.
Burial of the Dead
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948,
imposes on the Council the duty to arrange for the burial or
cremation of any person who dies, or is found dead, within
the borough, where no suitable private arrangements are made
for the disposal of the remains. . The Council have authorised
the Medical Officer of Health to make arrangements for the
burial of any person to whom it applies.
Since the 5th July, 1948, the Council have arranged the
burial of 248 persons under Section 50 of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, which empowers the Council to recover
the funeral expenses from a liable relative or the estate.
The work involves visiting and examining rooms (not
necessarily in Kensington, and sometimes while the body is
still there); making inventories; searching for Wills or traces
of next-of-kin, taking possession of money, valuables,
insurance policies, etc; interviewing relatives and others;
interviewing hospital authorities, registrars and police,
and dealing with correspondence, etc. Most of these cases
are destitute and friendless, and the rooms are often
indescribably filthy and infested. For example, H.M. Coroner
asked the Public Health Department to bury an old man who
had been found dead by the police in a room in North
Kensington. On examining the room-which measured about
10' x 8' - it was found to be full of junk such as tins,
bottles, newspapers, rags, old iron, etc. and on the floor
was a "carpet" of filth several inches deep. On turning over
some rags, the officers of the department, accompanied by the
owner of the premises, noticed some tobacco tins fastened
(by wire and rope) inside an old mackintosh. These tins were
found to contain treasury notes. This discovery meant that
every inch of the room, and every article therein, had to be
examined. The filth was shovelled up into baskets by Council
workmen, under supervision, and the contents of each basket
were carefully sifted before being loaded into a dustcart.
More money and a large number of National Savings Certificates
were found, but there was nothing else of value in the room.
The estate in this case amounted to £666, which was, of course,
passed to the Treasury Solicitor after deducting funeral expenses.
Each case has its own peculiarities; some are disposed
of easily and quickly but others take months to settle.
In the twelve months ended 31st December, 1953, the
Council became responsible for the burial of twenty-five
persons dying in the borough. The following is a summary of
the action taken:-