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71
During the year under review, as a result of representations
made by the Council, considerable alterations were made by the
Gas Light & Coke Co. to minimise the risk of nuisance from dust
grit, &c., from their works at Nine Elms, and these appear to have
given satisfactory results in mitigating the nuisance from these
works.
In June a complaint was received, signed by a number of
residents in the vicinity of a factory in St. John Ward, complaining
of nuisance from dust from such factory. The complaint appears
to have been to some extent influenced by the publicity given to
the enquiry of the Coroner into the deaths of two of the women
workers of the factory shewn from medical evidence to have been
due to Silicosis (vide pages 61, 131-3).
Upon inspection of the houses in the neighbourhood, little or
no evidence of the deposit of dust was found. The processes carried
on at the factory included the making of a scourer, this product
being made from powdered quartz (mainly silica) mixed with a dry
soap powder and sold as a proprietary article. The process of
manufacture is essentially a dusty one, and having regard to the
risk to the actual workers (mostly girls) must be considered as a
dangerous industry. Precautions had been taken by the employers
to minimise the risk to the workers by the provision of dust collecting
devices, including measures to prevent the escape of dust from the
works. Suggestions for the further improvement of the plant were
made to the proprietors, and these were carried out. Subsequently
however, the manufacture of this article at these premises was
discontinued and no further steps were necessary.
Water Supply.
During 1928 applications were received for certificates of
water supply in respect of 31 houses in accordance with Section 48
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. The certificates were
granted in each instance.
In 14 cases additional water supply was provided to the upper
floors of tenement houses, as required by the Borough Council
under the provisions of Section 78 of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1907, and Section 48 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891.
Van Dwellings.
The number of van dwellings in the Borough in 1928 was 64.
In the following table are set out the situations of the dwellings
and number of occupants:—