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25
The maintenance of houses in a reasonable state, and free from nuisance,
continued to give rise to much concern during the year. Owners, finding property
uneconomic, were in many cases not prepared to incur expense in order to comply
with the requirements of notices served under the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, and Abatement Orders were obtained in a large number of cases. Many of
these were not complied with and the owners were proceeded against and fines and
costs imposed. The owners, of course, would have been well advised to have spent
the money paid into the Court on the property in the first place, and thus in many
cases have obviated the necessity for the institution of legal proceedings.
In certain urgent cases the Council carried out work in default in order that
the occupants should not suffer undue hardship.
A number of houses in the Borough were found to be occupied as hostels, many
of which were overcrowded and lacked the essential sanitary amenities. The tendency
to use property for this purpose is increasing, and consequently there is an urgent
need for Byelaws to be made governing this type of residence.
In the case mentioned in my 1951 Annual Report where legal proceedings have
been instituted in respect of a basement bakehouse being used contrary to Section 54
of the Factories Act, 1937, the Magistrate agreed to adjourn the matter sine die,
as the work necessary to transfer the bakery from the basement to the ground floor
had already commenced. It was completed during the year and no further action
was necessary.
In the second case where a notice had been served under Section 54 of the
Factories Act, 1937, specifying that the existing Certificate of Suitability would
cease on a certain date, the Magistrate, upon hearing further evidence, allowed the
appeal. The Company concerned, however, were successfully prosecuted in respect
of five offences under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
A scheme for the employment of Student Sanitary Inspectors was re-introduced
by the Council, as a result of which two students commenced training in the Department
during the year.
The legislation passed during the year which affects the work of the Public
Health Department includes the following:
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1952. Section 26 extended the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and provided that "no rag and bone
dealer or a person who deals in old clothes or similar articles shall sell or
deliver, whether gratuitously or not, any article of food or drink to any
person or any article whatsoever to a person under the age of 15 years."
In certain cases warning letters have been sent to persons concerned, and
the practice stopped.
The Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952, was passed during the year
under review, but the appointed day for its coming into operation had not
been fixed up to the end of 1952. The Act empowers the Secretary of
State to make Regulations requiring gas fires, electrical fires and oil heaters
of specified descriptions to be fitted with fireguards, with a view to reducing
or preventing the risk of fire or injury from accidental contact with flames
or heating elements from the appliances. The Council delegated its powers
and duties under this Act to the Public Health Committee.
The Poisons List Order and Rules were consolidated and revised.