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6
year experiments with new materials were tried out by the
Infestation Control Division of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries. These experiments are not yet completed but
the results, so far, are encouraging.
Eighty-eight complaints of mice were received during the
year, compared with fifty-two last year. Usually the householder
is able to deal with mice infestations. The Sanitary
Inspectors are, however, always prepared to give advice on the
subject and traps are loaned by the Department on request. In
difficult cases the Council's Operatives give practical assistance.
Summary:—
Total number of complaints received 432
No. of inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors 1339
No. of Private Houses baited 320
No. of Business Premises baited 66
No of Statutory Notices served 9
No. of Prosecutions Nil
HOUSING.
1041 complaints of unsatisfactory housing were made to the
department during the year. 358 families were found upon
investigation to be living in overcrowded conditions, and
particulars of this overcrowding were passed to the Housing
Department for transmission to the London County Council.
61 cases were recommended for re-housing on grounds of
health, tuberculosis, inadequate hygienic facilities for the
proper care of babies and young children, and many other
serious conditions. The remainder of the cases were found to
be living in circumstances which were not considered
sufficiently necessitous to recommend for re-housing.
A new feature of interest, however, should be included in
this report. A recommendation for re-housing of a special
character was made to the Borough Council's Housing Department
in all cases where the applicant represented a recently
married family who were expecting a baby, or where there
were young children already living in impossible conditions.
Applications from persons such as these are most important,
as, though in good health, they are likely to suffer from health
deficiencies, because of their housing conditions. The Housing
Department, in spite of their many difficult responsibilities,
agreed to accept these recommendations, and do the best they
could in each case. During the year 34 such recommendations
were made to the Housing Estates Manager of the Borough
Council.